SEAFDEC has been continuously taking the leading role in the compilation of fishery statistics in the region based on statistics collected by countries at the national levels, with a view of providing information that could be used as basis for policy planning and management for sustainable fisheries. Parallel with the compilation of fishery statistics, SEAFDEC also initiated activities to improve the statistics framework covering the countries in the Southeast Asian region and making use of the international standards, classifications and definitions of fishery statistics, in order to facilitate the compilation, exchange and analysis of the statistics both within and outside the region.
The fishery statistics compiled by SEAFDEC also include statistics on production of major tuna and tuna-like species that are caught by countries in the region. Although there had also been many other initiatives aiming to collect data and information on tuna fisheries, in which the data may be collected in a more detailed manner, the importance of collecting the statistics should not be undermined as it could provide long-term figures on production trends, and such statistics could also be utilized by incorporating with other relevant data and information in order to come up with better picture of the status of tuna resources in the region.
It should however be noted that in order to come up with statistics for management purposes as mentioned earlier, the quality of statistics collected at the local and national level is considered one of the very important prerequisites. This requires further regional initiatives and efforts in order to strengthen the capacity of countries in collecting and providing the statistics for compilation at the regional or even at the global level.
The compilation of regional fishery statistics has been continuously pursued by SEAFDEC since 1978 in the form of the “Fishery Statistical Bulletin for the South China Sea Area”. In 2004, SEAFDEC started the initiative of revising the framework for collection of regional fishery statistics to cover all countries of Southeast Asia and harmonized the standard definitions and classifications of fishery statistics to be consistent with the current regional requirements as well as with the international standard definitions and classifications. The harmonization process was initiated in 2007, and henceforth the new statistics framework has been used for the compilation of fishery statistics in Southeast Asian countries starting from 2008 onwards. In addition to the harmonization of statistics, the reporting process of fishery statistics from the countries to SEAFDEC and FAO has also been streamlined in order to reduce the burden of countries, and minimize certain overlapping of data compiled by the two organizations. Moreover, focal points of the respective member countries, usually the senior statistics-related officer, were also identified to facilitate communication between the countries and with SEAFDEC and FAO, and clarify technical problems that may arise in the compilation of the statistics.
Despite the harmonization of statistics questionnaire and reporting process between SEAFDEC and FAO, certain differences could be noted from those compiled by FAO with those of SEAFDEC. Specifically for capture fishery statistics, while statistics compiled by FAO cover all countries in the world with focus on the total fisheries production by species (Quantity and Value) as well as import and export by country (Quantity and Value), the statistics compiled by SEAFDEC cover the Southeast Asian countries’ production (quantity and value) by species, fishing area, and fishing gear, with more detailed information on the number of fishing boats, fishing unit by type of boats, fishers, fish price,among others.
In culling the fishery statistics from the countries, the time reference of the statistics compiled by SEAFDEC (similar to those of FAO) is based on the calendar year starting from 1 January to 31 December. The statistics should be submitted by countries based on the sets of questionnaires (that have also been harmonized between SEAFDEC and FAO) by August of the year following the statistics year (e.g. statistics of 2010 should be submitted by August 2011).
Significant progress has been made by SEAFDEC in harmonizing the collection and compilation of fisheries data and information from the countries in the region, and in coming up with the Fishery Statistical Bulletin for the South China Sea Area which became the Fishery Statistical Bulletin of Southeast Asia starting with the 2008 fishery data and information. In 2008, SEAFDEC also came up with the Regional Framework for Fishery Statistics of Southeast Asia which focuses on the basic requirements that can be achieved by the countries in the region without putting much burden on the agencies responsible for the collection and compilation of fishery statistics. The countries in the region have been providing SEAFDEC with the necessary fishery data and information based on the questionnaires which had been standardized and harmonized with the requirements of FAO. The efforts of SEAFDEC and the Member Countries have been strengthened with the adoption in June 2011 of the Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region Towards 2020, which specified the need to “Strengthen knowledge/science-based development and management of fisheries through enhancing the national capacity in the collection and sharing of fisheries data and information” (RES 10), which is elucidated in the Plan of Action (A3, A4, A5).
Specifically, for the regional compilation of statistics on tuna and tuna-like species which is based on the national statistics collected by individual countries, relevant international/regional organizations should consolidate their collective efforts in developing appropriate and practical methodologies and modules that could be extended to countries in order to enhance the capacity of countries in the collection, analysis, and reporting of statistics. SEAFDEC for its part could expand its collaboration especially with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) which is tasked to conserve and manage highly migratory fish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific and includes Indonesia, Japan and Philippines among its members and also with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission which manages tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean and adjacent seas and includes Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand as its members. Cooperation would also be established or strengthened with other organizations at the regional and sub-regional levels to be able to improve the collection and compilation of tuna statistics in the Southeast Asian region.
Moreover, it is also necessary to enhance the capacity of the countries in the region for the identification of important tuna species in order that statistics can be appropriately collected and reported at species level. The use of information technologies and web-based tools in collection, sharing and exchange, as well as analysis of data and information should be enhanced both at the national and regional levels. This is envisaged to minimize human errors that could occur during the relevant processing of information, and could also enhance timeliness in submission of statistics within the countries as well as for the compilation of the data by relevant regional organizations.
A number of scientific research studies had already been conducted on the stock assessment of tuna and tuna-like species, information from such research could be exchanged, shared and disseminated in the region through the regular conduct of workshops and seminars, similar to this workshop. The processed information compiled through such studies could be used as reference for the management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Southeast Asian countries. Furthermore, although the regional statistics on tuna production is generally under-reported while the quality and reliability of the data is very much dependent on national statistics collected/estimated and provided by the concerned countries, collection of statistics on a routine basis should be sustained and mobilized to provide the necessary initial picture of the production trend of the species. The trend could then be enhanced, by incorporating the information with other non-routine data, such as those from research projects in order to generate more useful information on and get better perspective of the status of tuna stocks to support policy planning and management of tuna fisheries.
This project is supported by the Government of Sweden
Through the SEAFDEC-Sweden Cooperation Program for 2013-2019
“Fisheries and Habitat Management, Climate Change and Social Well-being in Southeast Asia”
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