15 September 2015
CTI-CFF Promotes Sustainable Fisheries Management, Marine Tourism and Regional Collaboration
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During the month of August, the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) signed an agreement on an ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM), held a Regional Business Forum and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Coral Triangle Center.

Coral Triangle InitiativeSeptember 2015: During the month of August, the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) signed an agreement on an ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM), held a Regional Business Forum and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Coral Triangle Center.

The CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, the South East Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and the CTI-CFF’s EAFM Working Group agreed on cooperation initiatives to implement an EAFM approach in the six CTI member countries during a meeting on 3 August. Cooperation will focus on addressing overfishing, illegal fishing and marine resources trade governance and will include research, exchange of knowledge and resources and training and education on sustainable fisheries management. The meeting between the CTI-CFF and SEAFDEC follows the signing of a MoU between the two groups in April 2015.

The Fourth CTI-CFF Regional Business Forum discussed sustainable marine tourism as a mechanism for sustaining biodiversity and livelihoods. The Forum, which took place under the theme ‘Charting the Future of the Coral Triangle as a Global Sustainable Tourism Destination,’ provided a platform to promote best practices for sustainable and responsible marine tourism and included components on sustainable marine tourism, marine tourism investment and a marine tourism expo. CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat Executive Director Widi Pratikto said the event allowed stakeholders “to reiterate their commitment towards sustainable practices in marine tourism…[and] to market their marine landmarks as [the] world’s best holiday destinations.” The region derived approximately US$3 billion in costal tourism revenue in 2014, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, and CTI-CFF countries are taking steps to promote tourism in the region, such as through the development of Indonesia’s National Tourism Strategic Areas. Over 300 participants from business, government and non-government attended the Forum, which convened from 27-29 August in Bali, Indonesia.

Finally, the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat formalized its collaboration with the Coral Triangle Center through a five-year MoU focused on building capacity and enhancing stakeholder participation in the CTI-CFF. The MoU addresses, inter alia: learning and training for the CTI-CFF Technical Working Groups (TWGs) to achieve the Regional Plan of Action (RPoA); support to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) through a learning network; support to cross-cutting initiatives to engage stakeholders, including women, local government and businesses, in contributing to achieving the RPoA; and support for the participation of CTI-CFF members in regional and international forums, such as the World Conservation Congress (WCC).

The Coral Triangle region includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. [CTI-CFF Press Release 3 August] [CTI-CFF Press Release 20 August] [CTI-CFF Press Release 28 August] [CTI-CFF Press Release 30 August] [CTI-CFF Website]

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