The FAO convened workshop on IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing has emphasized the need to combat illegal fishing and strengthen the seafood traceability in Asia.

Seafood products are among the most widely traded food commodities in the world, with estimates for 2015 placing the value of international fish trade at $130 billion. But illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) – estimated between $10 - 23 billion annually – is undermining the industry.

IUU fishing, which includes operating without authorisation, harvesting protected species, using outlawed fishing gear and violating quota limits, could account for up to 26 million tonnes a year, or more than 15 per cent, of the world's total annual capture fisheries output, speakers at the workshop said.

The capacity building workshop was organized jointly by FAO, INFOFISH and the Centre with financial support from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on ‘National and regional good practices in seafood traceability in Asia to combat IUU fishing’.

It brings together international experts from 15 Asian countries to address the challenges and opportunities for international and intra-regional trade in sustainably-sourced and labeled seafood products. The participating countries are Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.

FAO, workshop, IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing, illegal fishing, sea food traceability in Asia

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