3rd CTI Regional Exchange on the Implementation of EAFM Activities in the Coral Triangle Countries

The event brought together representatives from the six Coral Triangle countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste, as well as international organizations and experts. The exchange focused on the implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in the Coral Triangle region. EAFM is a management approach that considers the interactions between fisheries and the broader ecosystem, aiming to maintain the health and productivity of the marine ecosystem while ensuring the long-term sustainability of fisheries. The exchange provided a platform for countries to share their experiences, challenges, and best practices in implementing EAFM. The event consisted of several sessions, including an opening session, overview of EAFM, proposed EAFM indicators, and recent EAFM activities in the CT countries. The sessions also covered topics such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, live reef food fish trade (LRFFT), and climate change adaptation (CCA). The exchange also included case studies, such as the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion (SSME), and discussions on integrating other CTI themes in fisheries management. The CTI-CFF Regional Exchange Program aims to support the implementation of EAFM in the Coral Triangle region by providing a platform for countries to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices. The program also seeks to strengthen regional cooperation and coordination among CT countries, as well as with international organizations and experts. The exchange resulted in several key outcomes, including the finalization of the EAFM Regional Framework and Roadmap, which provides a guiding document for the implementation of EAFM in the Coral Triangle region. The framework outlines the key principles, objectives, and indicators for EAFM, as well as the roles and responsibilities of CT countries and international organizations. The exchange also resulted in the development of regional guidelines and best practices for EAFM, including climate change adaptation. The guidelines provide a framework for CT countries to implement EAFM in a way that is consistent with the regional framework and roadmap. The CTI-CFF Regional Exchange Program is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Coral Triangle Support Partnership (CTSP). The program is implemented by Tetra Tech ARD, Inc. under Contract No. EPP-I-00-06-00008-00.