The ‘Strategies for trawl fisheries bycatch management (REBYC‐II CTI)’ project is coming to an end by December 2016. One of the key final activities in the project was a regional meeting on the Future of Trawl Fisheries Management in Southeast Asia held on 23‐25 September 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand. The primary aim of the meeting was to develop policy recommendations for sustainable trawl fisheries management in Southeast Asia by reviewing the key lessons learnt in the REBYC‐II CTI project and by assessing the current national policies related to trawl fisheries management in SEAFDEC member countries. It was found that the REBYC‐II CTI countries are at various levels in developing fisheries development plans at the pilot site or national level. These plans are incorporating the EAFM principles and especially the active participation of stakeholders in the process. The need and content of a potential follow up project was discussed and a framework for a future project was drafted. One of the key objectives will be to identify and promote actions that will help to reduce the overall trawl fishing capacity to better match the fisheries resources available. It was also stressed that it is fundamentally important to follow the EAFM principles and address the livelihoods issues wherever the fisheries management measure are likely to affect the current livelihoods.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Global Environment Facility and Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center. (2016). Report on the REBYC‐II CTI regional meeting on the future of Trawl Fisheries Management in South East Asia.Training Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.