East Asia Summit

In News

Recently, India and Singapore organised an East Asia Summit workshop on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated  Fishing.

About the Summit

• The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India and the Government of Singapore organised a virtual East Asia Summit (EAS) Workshop on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.
• It was co-chaired by India and Singapore Food Agency (SFA).  

Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing

• About: 
  • IUU fishing activities violate both national and international fishing regulations. 
  • Illegal fishing refers to fishing activities conducted in contravention of applicable laws and regulations, including those laws and rules adopted at the regional and international level.
  • Unreported fishing refers to fishing activities that are not reported or are misreported to relevant authorities in contravention of national laws and regulations or reporting procedures of a relevant regional fisheries management organisation.
  • Unregulated fishing occurs in areas or for fish stocks for which there are no applicable conservation or management measures and where such fishing activities are conducted in a manner inconsistent with State responsibilities for the conservation of living marine resources under international law. 
• Threats: 
  • It is a global problem that threatens ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries. 
  • It also threatens economic security and the natural resources that are critical to global food security, and
  • It puts law-abiding fishermen and seafood producers at a disadvantage.
• Economic losses due to IUU: 
  • Difficult to Quantify: 
    • The inherent nature of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing makes it difficult to accurately quantify the full global economic impacts resulting from these activities.
    • Various studies over the years have assessed regional levels of IUU fishing and estimated global losses, but such estimates are based on data that are now many years old. 
  • NewMethodologies:
    • The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) is currently developing regional IUU estimate methodologies that can be regularly updated. 
    • Implementing the UN’s action plan recommendations will help gauge the actual level of activity and impacts so that they may be appropriately addressed.

About East Asia Summit(EAS)

• Origin:
  • The concept of East Asia Grouping was first promoted in 1991 by the then Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir bin Mohamad. 
• Formed: 
  • Established in 2005, it is the Indo-Pacific’s premier forum for strategic dialogue. 
• Aim: 
  • Promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity in East Asia.
• Different from rest:
  • It is the only leader-led forum at which all key partners meet to discuss political, security and economic challenges facing the Indo-Pacific.
• Membership:
  • Apart from the 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states, the East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia.
• Leader: 
  • ASEAN leads the forum, and the chair position rotates between the ASEAN Member States annually. 
• India: 
  • India is one of the founding members of the East Asia Summit.
• Priority areas:
  • There are six priority areas of regional cooperation within the framework of the EAS. These are:
    • Environment and Energy, 
    • Education, 
    • Finance, 
    • Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases, 
    • Natural Disaster Management, and 
    • ASEAN Connectivity.

Significance of East Asia:

• Important Nations: The eastern region of Asia consists of the Asian nations, Greater China (Greater China consists of the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), Japan, Mongolia, North Korea and South Korea.
• Economic benefit: It represents nearly 50 per cent of the world’s population with 20 percent of global trade, and comprising 16 nations that are on a dynamic path of economic development.
• Regional Security: Considering tension on the Korean Peninsula, South China and in the Taiwan Strait, among others, it is vital for Japan, China and South Korea to maintain a common stance and to share a common concern for security in the East Asian region.
• Global Implications: An East Asia community would play a big role in instilling a sense of responsibility in Asian countries and in leading them jointly in contributing to the resolution of global issues.
• Importance for India

• India has been a part of EAS since its inception in 2005 in Kuala Lumpur and the fact that Indian Prime Ministers have participated in all the Summits, stands testimony to the importance India attaches to this process.

Way Ahead

• Joint effort: Working with other fishing nations through regional fisheries bodies and international partnerships. Strengthening enforcement and data collection programs aimed at detecting, deterring, and eliminating IUU fishing.
• Restricted port entry: Implementing measures that restrict port entry and access to port services for vessels included on the IUU lists of international fisheries organisations with U.S. membership. 
  • Identifying countries that have fishing vessels engaged in IUU fishing activities. 
• Capacity expansion: Supporting capacity-building and technical assistance workshops that provide the tools, resources, information, and skills to solve IUU issues, combat IUU fishing, and promote sustainable seafood practices. 

Source: PIB