The 34th meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Fisheries (ASWGFi), the ASEAN’s leading technical and sectoral body dedicated to the governance of marine resources, the development of regional standards on biosecurity and fisheries trade, and coordination with Dialogue and Development Partners, was held in Puerto Princesa, in the Palawan Archipelago, Philippines, from 17 to 19 September 2026.
Italy was represented during the working session by the COOPMEC Project, implemented by CIHEAM Bari within the framework of the Italy-ASEAN Partnership and funded by the Italian Cooperation. Participants included Gianpaolo Gullotta, Coordinator of the Italy-ASEAN Partnership at AICS Hanoi, and Andrea D’Ambruoso, COOPMEC Project Manager for CIHEAM Bari.
The COOPMEC Project aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the aquaculture and small-scale fisheries sectors across the ASEAN region by promoting sustainable practices, improving product quality, and enhancing the technical and institutional capacities of partner countries.
During the meeting, AICS Hanoi presented the progress of Italian-supported initiatives in the region, highlighting the project’s operational achievements, the technical guidelines developed, and the specialized training activities carried out at the CIHEAM Bari Hub in Tricase (Lecce, Italy). Afterwards, CIHEAM Bari provided an overview of the current implementation status of COOPMEC and outlined the next phases of action planned in the countries involved in the initiative: Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
The sustainable management of natural resources, the harmonization of good production practices, and the promotion of shared certification systems remain key elements for the success of the initiative and for strengthening regional dialogue in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
At the conclusion of the session, several ASEAN Member States expressed positive feedback, emphasizing the tangible impact of COOPMEC’s initial achievements. Indonesia welcomed the regional Guidelines for the Seaweed Value Chain, while the Philippines commended the Manual on Abandoned Fishing Gear and formally requested the launch of a pilot initiative focused on marine litter management.
Cambodia expressed deep appreciation for its involvement as a pilot country. Vietnam also acknowledged the project’s contribution to the adoption of Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP) and the support provided to the tilapia value chain.
In their closing remarks, the delegations of Thailand and Malaysia praised the excellence of the specialized training programmes delivered in Tricase (Lecce, Italy), emphasizing their contribution to strengthening institutional trust and reaffirming the strategic importance of the Italy-ASEAN partnership in promoting the Blue Economy across the region.
