APEC Oceans and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG)

Lead Shepherd
       ATTY. ASIS G. PEREZ
       Undersecretary for Fisheries
       Department of Agriculture
       Tel. Nos.: (632) 929-5859 / 929-9597

Technical Representative
       DR. VINCENT HILOMEN
       Executive Director for Priority Programs and Coastal and Marine
       DENR - Biodiversity Management Bureau
       Tel. Nos. - (632) 924 6031 to 35 local 203 & 204, (632) 925 8948

During the OFWG Meeting on 10-12 May 2015, the working group decided to:
1. Consider the 2015 independent assessment recommendations and SCE comments in “OFWG Strategic Plan 2013-15 – Discussion Points” (2015/OFWG/SOM2/003) when it rewrites the Strategic Plan in 2015.
2. Endorse the OFWG Food Security Action Plan as a living document and agreed to share the document with the Policy Partnership on Food Security (PPFS) for further collaboration.
3. Endorse the Virtual Working Group on Marine Debris 2015 Work Plan.

During the 5th Meeting of the Ocean and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG) on 10-12 May 2015, the group proposed the following Intersessional Actions:
1. OFWG member economies will provide input to the coastal ecosystem valuation survey.
2. The Lead Shepherd will provide an update to the OFWG on the status and progress of the Mainstreaming Oceans Initiative, including distribution of additional documents received at the end of SOM2.

As part of the Philippine hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2015, the High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and Blue Economy (HLPD-FSBE) was held on 4-6 October 2015 in Iloilo City, Philippines. This event which was introduced during 4th Meeting of APEC-Oceans and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG) in January 2015 was jointly hosted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). During the HLPD-FSBE, the Iloilo Plan of Action, which emphasizes science-based conservation, restoration, enhancement, protection and management of ocean, coastal and marine resources, and sustainable aquaculture in the APEC region, was adopted. The action plan consists of three priority areas:
       - Resilient Ocean and Coastal Resources and Ecosystems, Coastal Communities and Sustainable Aquaculture;
       - Fish Loss Reduction; and 
       - Agribusiness and Blue Economy

This Plan of Action was adopted as a long-term strategy to address the issue of food security in the APEC region and is going to be aligned with the APEC food system and roadmap initiated by the Policy Partnership for Food Security.

High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy, 4 - 6 Oct 2015, Iloilo, Philippines (Attended by DENR Delegation - Sec. Ramon J.P. Paje (Head), Undersecretaries Ernesto Adobo Jr., Manuel D. Gerochi, Demetrio Ignacio, and Jonas R. Leones)

5th Meeting of Oceans and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG), 10 - 12 May 2015, Boracay, Philippines (Attended by Undersecretary Manuel D. Gerochi, Director Theresa Mundita Lim, Executive Director Vincent Hilomen)

Ocean and Fisheries: http://www.apec.org/Groups/SOM-Steering-Committee-on-Economic-and-Technical-Cooperation/Working-Groups/Ocean-and-Fisheries.aspx

OFWG Meeting documents: http://mddb.apec.org/Pages/search.aspx?setting=ListMeeting&DateRange=2015/05/01%2C2015/05/end&Name=5th%20Oceans%20and%20Fisheries%20Working%20Group%20Meeting%2020