FOOD SECURITY FOR ASEAN

By Jamaluddin Muhammad

BANGKOK, June 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and other Asean countries have
resolved to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing to achieve food
security in the region.

The resolution and plan of action adopted by the Asean-Southeast Asian
Fisheries Development Centre conference here Friday focused on ensuring
sustainable fisheries.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Noh Omar said that
Malaysia and the other Asean countries supported effective fisheries management
both in areas of national jurisdiction and on the high seas.

Noh expressed particular concern over the problem of IUU (illegal,
unreported and unregulated) fishing.

"Malaysia joins global efforts to use every resource to combat IUU fishing,"
he told Malaysian journalists after attending the Asean-Seafdec Conference on
Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security Towards 2020.

Noh said Malaysia fully supported global measures to counter IUU
fishing.

Instruments like Port State Measures Agreement and the Global Record of
Fishing Vessels promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation could be
effective in addressing the problem, he said.

Noh met Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Dr Fadel
Muhammad on the sidelines of the conference to discuss ways to help Malaysian
and Indonesian fishermen arrested at sea.

They agreed to explore ways to help the fishermen "who are only trying to
earn a living," he said.

--BERNAMA