28 August 2014: In an outcome document agreed upon at a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ocean and Fisheries Working Group, APEC Ministers called for establishing more integrated, sustainable, inclusive and mutually beneficial partnerships on ocean cooperation among APEC members. The ‘Xiamen Declaration: Towards New Partnership through Ocean Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region’ outlines 47 actions on four priority areas: coastal and marine ecosystem conservation and disaster resilience; the role of the ocean on food security and food-related trade; marine science, technology and innovation; and the blue economy.

On coastal and marine ecosystem conservation and disaster resilience, the document describes actions to, inter alia: scale up ecosystem-based management (EBM) approaches and programmes including through marine spatial planning, integrated water resources management (IWRM) and integrated coastal zone management (ICM); reduce and mitigate marine pollution and marine debris; and increase participation in and implementation of global and regional ocean programs, including the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment Including Socioeconomic Aspects (the UN World Ocean Assessment). It also recognizes the importance of strengthening disaster resilience, including through early warning systems and marine EBM approaches and through collaboration on the impacts of climate change impacts, habitat change and ocean acidification.

On food security, the document reaffirms the importance of, inter alia: combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; maintaining and restoring all fish stocks; encouraging environmentally sound aquaculture; ratifying or acceding to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Agreement on Port State Measures; improving tracking of fishing vessels; supporting sustainable small-scale fisheries and aquaculture in line with the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication; and exchanging best practices on minimizing losses and waste on post-harvest handling and processing.

On marine science, technology and innovation, the document encourages APEC members to, inter alia: facilitate joint marine scientific research, support innovation, science and technology cooperation on marine disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience; and raise awareness on ocean-related issues, especially among youth and future generations.

The outcome document calls for cooperation on the blue economy in the Asia-Pacific region, recognizing linkages between the blue economy, sustainable development and economic growth, particularly on ocean and coastal conservation efforts. It encourages APEC members to involve the private sector, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in cooperation on and development of the blue economy and the sharing of best practices.

In an interview with the APEC Bulletin, Greg Schneider, Lead Shepherd, APEC Ocean and Fisheries Working Group, described implementation as a key challenge in achieving sustainable oceans and marine resources. He also highlighted some “good news related to the oceans,” including data that show efforts to rebuild fish stocks are having a positive effect on increasing wild harvests and aquaculture production.

The meeting took place on 28 August 2014 in Xiamen, China. Its outcomes will be shared at the APEC meeting in November 2014 in Beijing, China. [APEC Press Release] [Outcome Document]