The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation convened the third Oceans-Related Ministerial Meeting (AOMM3) on October 11-12, 2010 in Paracas, Peru , with 16 delegations from APEC member economies attending. The Taiwan delegation was headed by Vice Minister Sing-Hwa Hu of the Council of Agriculture (COA) and its members included officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Environmental Protection Administration and Fisheries Agency of COA. The ministers issued Paracas Declaration after AOMM3, emphasizing that APEC economies should strengthen sustainable development of ocean fishery resources to ensure food security.

Food Security a Priority Task for APEC

Not only nations throughout the world have attached much importance to food security, APEC has also listed food security as one of its priorities, noted COA. Therefore AOMM3 was held under the theme “ Healthy Oceans and Fisheries Management towards Food Security” and clarified the content of food security with four sub-themes: the role of oceans in food security, sustainable development and protection of the marine environment, promote free and open trade and investment, and impact of climate change on the oceans. And APEC ministers endorsed the Paracas Action Agenda attached to Paracas Declaration, instructing the appropriate APEC working groups to carry out policies listed in Paracas Declaration, including joint survey and research on marine ecosystems and climate changes, prevention of marine pollution, conservation of marine biodiversity, removal of barriers to trade of fishery products and promotion of trade liberalization, elimination of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, marine crime and piracy, in order to ensure sustainable development of fisheries and marine resources in the Asia-Pacific region.

Taiwan Delegation Urges Inclusion of Piracy in Declaration and Shares Experience in Response to Climate Change

In addition to stressing the importance of maintaining marine fisheries production, the Council said, the Taiwan delegation pointed out that attention must be paid to the sustainable and appropriate development of aquaculture because it will be one of the important future sources of food for human beings, and the governments should take care of small fisheries and fishermen’s welfare and livelihood under the impact of climate changes. Besides, Taiwan fishing vessels operating in the Indian Ocean have suffered serious losses due to the rampancy of Somali pirates. Piracy has not only adversely affected the livelihood of Taiwan fishermen but also endangered world food supply and trade stability. So when negotiating the AOMM3 declaration the Taiwan delegation actively urged APEC economies to recognize that to ensure food security it is important to prevent piracy. The inclusion of fighting piracy in Paracas Declaration will greatly help joint international efforts to combat piracy, noted the COA.

With regard to extreme weathers caused by climate change, another focus of AOMM3, the Taiwan delegation reported on post-Typhoon Morakot reconstruction works for other APEC economies to make reference in response to climate change. And the Taiwan delegation expressed the willingness to establish under the APEC framework a platform for exchange of information related to climate changes and sponsor roundtable meetings, actively demonstrating Taiwan ’s determination to make contributions to the international community, added the Council.

The COA said Taiwan has always actively participated in APEC meetings and related activities and enhanced international cooperation in the field of fisheries and conservation of marine resources. And because of its great performance in AOMM3 and important APEC members’ positive response to its proposals and contributions, the Taiwan delegation has significantly advanced the country’s fishery interests and its participation in APEC and other international organizations.