APEC Fisheries Working Group
APEC was established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies. The FWG was created by Senior Officials in 1991. The APEC FWG is one of 11 APEC working groups that define and fund sectorial work programs.
Visit the APEC Fisheries Working Group website
The FWG was begun as an informal dialogue group, APEC has since become the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic cooperation. Its goal is to advance Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and sense of community.
Purpose
The FWG was created in 1991. It aims to promote the conservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources:
- sustainable development of aquaculture and habitat preservation
- development of solutions to common resource management problems
- the enhancement of food safety and quality of fish and fisheries products, and
- sector-specific work relating to trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation.
Australian Priorities
Australia will continue its active engagement in the APEC FWG. Australia is interested in ensuring the finalisation of the current strategic framework, and the integration into the Working Group’s program of the outcomes of the APEC Ocean-related Ministerial Meeting held in Korea in April 2002. Australia is particularly supportive of the Working Group’s continued focus on aquaculture development and will continue to promote the establishment of an APEC Coral Reefs Network.
Members
APEC was established with 12 founding Member Economies including Australia. There are now 21 Member Economies (Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Republic of the Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Unites States and Vietnam).
FWG Key contacts - APEC FWG website.
Meetings
The FWG holds annual meetings hosted by one of the Member Economies. FWG documents can be downloaded on the FWG website - documents section.
17th Meeting: Chinese Taipei, TBA 2006
16th Meeting: Phuket, Thailand, 17-19 May 2005
15th Meeting: Puerto Varas, Chile, 6-7 May 2004
14th Meeting: Hanoi, Vietnam, 9-14 June 2003
13th Meeting: Lima, Peru, 20-24 May 2002
12th Meeting: Hong Kong, China , 14-18 May 2001
11th Meeting: Seattle, USA , 17-21 July 2000
10th Meeting: Cairns, Australia , 17-19 May 1999
9th Meeting: Chinese Taipei , 8-10 June 1998
Location
The APEC Secretariat is based in Singapore.