December 2014: Representatives at the Tenth Senior Officials Meeting (SOM-10) of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) endorsed the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Working Group’s Regional and National Roadmaps for 2014-2015, agreed on cooperation agreements with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and agreed on organizational matters.

Officials also heard reports from member countries on the implementation of their National Plans of Action, including discussion on the use of ecosystem approaches to fisheries management (EAFM), adaptation to climate change and threatened species.

The meeting agreed on a development cooperation agreement with FAO, including specific programs and activities to be carried out. Officials also endorsed the Government of Australia’s seascapes approach and discussed a proposal by the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Oceans for Biodiversity Conservation and Food Security Project for collaborating with the EAFM Working Group, the CTI Regional Secretariat, National Coordination Committees (NCCs) and other CTI partners.

On organizational matters, officials confirmed the entry into force of the Agreement on the Establishment of CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat and the appointment of its Executive Director. They also recognized progress made by Brunei Darussalam in meeting requirements for becoming a new member of the CTI-CFF. Officials agreed on upcoming meeting arrangements, including the hosting of the Second CTI Local Government Network Forum by Papua New Guinea in March 2015 and the Fourth CTI Regional Business Forum in Indonesia in April 2015.

SOM-10 convened from 5-7 November 2014, in Dili, Timor-Leste. [CTI-CFF Press Release] [SEAFDEC Website] [Meeting Information] [IISD RS story on Establishment of CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat]