Ocean and Fisheries

APEC’s Oceans and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG) was formed in 2011, following a decision to merge the Marine Resource Conservation and the Fisheries working groups (in operation since 1990 and 1991, respectively).

The OFWG aims to support APEC’s mission to foster sustainable economic growth, development and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. The OFWG works to facilitate free and open trade in the region and promotes the sustainable use of fisheries, aquaculture, and marine ecosystem resources and related goods and services. The OFWG will promote cooperation among its members, governments, academia, private industry, and regional and international organizations to advance this process.

The OFWG is committed to

1. Promote the protection and conservation of the marine environment, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and responsible management of marine ecosystem resources in the APEC region to ensure long-term economic benefits.
2. Assess the impacts of the changing ocean environment, natural disasters, and other issues on food insecurity and economic activity in the APEC region.
3. Improve the understanding of the economic and social value of the ocean and marine ecosystems, to advance a shared vision of the blue economy. Strengthen partnerships with international organizations and public, and private sector entities in the fisheries and aquaculture industry of APEC economies to encourage active participation in and communication of OFWG work.
4. Enhance cross-fora collaboration to support the mainstreaming of ocean-related issues in APEC.
5. Advance the implementation, review, and preparation of new editions of the Roadmap on Marine Debris (MD), the Roadmap on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and Roadmap on Small-scale Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 – 2027.

Contacts

Current Activities

The 5^th APEC Ocean-related Ministerial Meeting (AOMM5)

The 5^th APEC Ocean-related Ministerial Meeting (AOMM5) was held on 1 May 2025 in Busan, Korea. The meeting marks the resumption of high-level ocean dialogue within APEC after a decade-long gap.

Under the theme “Navigating our Blue Future – Connection, Innovation, and Prosperity”, the meeting underscored the urgent need for stronger cooperation to tackle environmental challenges, promote sustainable ocean practices and promote economic empowerment and participation of all stakeholders in the region across 3 thematic areas:
1) Enhancing ocean resilience is fundamental to achieving sustainable economic growth;
2) Effectives strategies to combat IUU fishing and promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture;
3) Promoting economic empowerment of all to achieve economic prosperity in the oceans and fisheries sector.

The 24th OFWG Plenary Meeting

The meeting was held on 27 - 28 February 2025 in SOM1 in Gyeongju, Korea.

OFWG members shared on their individual and collective actions taking place in the ocean and fisheries sector, including the implementation of the Roadmaps on marine debris, IUU fishing, and small-scale fisheries and aquaculture. There were discussions on new topics for future projects, such as public-private collaboration to tackle marine debris, blue economy, antibiotics in aquaculture, and area-based marine conservation efforts.

Activities and events in 2025

• Project events in 2024

1. Virtual workshop on Implementing effective gear marking strategies for fishing and aquaculture gear in the APEC region (OFWG 06 2024S) on 5 February
2. Best Practices Workshop on Development, Review and Implementation of Plans of Action to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU Fishing (POAs-IUU) (OFWG 207 2024A) took place on 29 April in Busan, Korea
3. Strengthening Climate Resilience and Food Security via Stakeholder-Driven Sustainable Seaweed Supply Workshop (OFWG 203 2024A) took place on 29 April in Busan, Korea
4. Workshop on Climate Change Impact on Marine Ecosystem: Digital Monitoring and Prediction Tools (OFWG 01 2025S) took place on 29 April in Busan, Korea
5. The first Conference on Strengthening Sustainable Growth and Resilience in Small-Scale Fisheries through Fishing Vessel Modernization (OFWG 10 2025S) took place on 29 April in Busan, Korea
6. Workshop on Strengthening Small-Scale Aquaculture (SSA) Governance in APEC region (OFWG 102 2024A) took place on 20-21 May in Monterey, US
7. APEC Workshop on Marine Hazard Prevention and Mitigation in Fisheries  in the Context of Climate Change (OFWG 02 2025S) took place on 4 July in Nanjing, China
8. Workshop on Enhancing adaptation and mitigation to climate change for the sustainable aquaculture of the Asia-Pacific (OFWG 02 2023A) took place on 15-16 September in Ha Noi, Viet Nam
9. Workshop on Promoting Decision Support System (DSS) Using Digital Data to Support Small Pelagic Fisheries Management in the APEC Region (OFWG 101 2024A) took place on 23-25 September in Jakarta, Indonesia
10. Workshop on Capacity Building on Integrating Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems into Climate Policies in the APEC Region (OFWG 206 2024A) will take place on 15-16 October in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei
11. Workshop on Marine Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Community Development in APEC Economies (OFWG 104 2024A) will take place on 28-30 October in Shenzhen, China
12. APEC Workshop on Blue Citizen Communities for Ocean Literate Society (OFWG 103 2024A) will take place on 6-8 November in Xiamen, China
13. The 8th APEC Blue Economy Forum (OFWG 04 2025S) will take place on 6-7 November in Xiamen, China

• There are publications published on APEC publications database that include research and reports done by OFWG members, contributing to OFWG objectives and APEC vision and plan of actions.