Measures for enhancing marine fisheries stock in Southeast Asia

Abstract

The shared aquatic resources of Southeast Asia are important in terms of nutrition, income and employment, and at the same time, they are unique in terms of species composition and biodiversity. Many economically important fish species are highly migratory and are adversely affected by interference with the migration corridors between spawning and nursery grounds and adult habitats, as well as habitat degradation caused by pollution. In Southeast Asian waters migratory fish pass through overlapping ‘exclusive economic zones, (EEZs), often claimed by more than one country. As fish may be dependent on habitats in the contested area or on either side of the zone, there is a need to develop viable fisheries management systems, which in the end may ensure the enhancement of the aquatic resources and their sustainable use for years to come.