ASIATODAY.ID, GUANGZHOU – Ocean policy across the Asia-Pacific is no longer treated as a niche environmental concern. It is now emerging as a core economic resilience strategy, as senior officials move to align marine ecosystem protection, fisheries governance, and coastal livelihoods with long-term growth, food security, and climate adaptation agendas.
The shift reflects the accelerating economic weight of ocean-based industries in regional trade and employment—alongside the mounting costs of climate-driven shocks hitting fisheries, aquaculture, and vulnerable coastal communities.
“We are at an important juncture where high-level commitments must be translated into concrete actions and technical progress that strengthen the resilience of marine ecosystems and coastal communities,” said Jinhee Seo, Lead Shepherd of the APEC Ocean and Fisheries Working Group on February 6, 2026.
“Our priority this year is to move from consensus to delivery, particularly on ocean resilience and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture,” she added.
A central focus of discussions is accelerating progress toward the Ocean Resilience Enhancement Roadmap, mandated by the APEC ministerial meeting in Busan last year.
The roadmap is designed as a region-wide framework to help economies absorb environmental shocks while safeguarding fisheries productivity and coastal livelihoods.
The initiative seeks to integrate cooperation on fisheries and aquaculture management, marine disaster preparedness, data sharing, and capacity building in ocean and climate information—especially for small-scale fisheries and coastal communities facing high exposure to climate and market volatility. (AT Network)
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