The ocean is a vital development space for Asia and the Pacific, particularly for small island developing States (SIDS) and coastal least developed countries (LDCs). Yet illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, marine pollution and habitat loss continue to threaten marine ecosystems and the coastal livelihoods that depend on them.
Prepared by UNDP in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), this policy note is part of a series accompanying UNDP’s Blue Economy Action Brief. It examines the role of maritime MCS in the transition to a sustainable blue economy. Drawing on fisheries, where MCS is most developed, the note argues that MCS should be treated as shared national infrastructure supporting the whole of the blue economy. This includes not only the fisheries sector but also ports and shipping, offshore energy, tourism and marine protected areas.
The note is aimed at senior officials and policymakers who are developing sustainable national blue economy frameworks. It sets out the options for, and benefits of, building MCS into those frameworks.
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