The project Effectively Managing Network of Marine Protected Areas in Large Marine Ecosystems in the ASEAN Region (ASEAN ENMAPS) takes a step forward as the core project implementing team gather for the Fisheries Orientation at the ACB Headquarters on 13 August 2024. The activity brought together members of the ASEAN ENMAPS Project Management Unit and ACB’s Regional Project Coordinating Committee to align on scientific, managerial, and operational frameworks crucial to the project’s success.
The orientation aimed to ensure that all participants are fully equipped with a comprehensive understanding of the project’s objectives, methodologies, and expected outcomes. This shared understanding is crucial for fostering a unified and cohesive approach to the implementation of the ASEAN ENMAPS Project, which is dedicated to enhancing the management of marine protected areas (MPAs) across the region.
Dr. Vincent Hilomen, ASEAN ENMAPS Regional Fisheries Adviser, and Mr. Rollan Geronimo, Fisheries Analyst for Asia at Global Fishing Watch served as resource persons in the orientation.
Several key objectives were addressed during the activity:
- Science-based approaches: A detailed overview of the scientific methodologies underpinning the project was presented, highlighting the importance of data-driven decision-making.
- Fisheries-relevant interventions: The session outlined specific interventions aimed at improving MPA management, emphasising the need for tailored strategies to address regional challenges.
- Knowledge management and dissemination: Participants discussed strategies for knowledge management and dissemination, ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are effectively shared across the ASEAN region.
- Collaborative governance mechanisms: The event emphasised the importance of collaborative governance, detailing mechanisms for cooperation among stakeholders at various levels.
- Ensuring alignment and synergy: The orientation concluded with discussions on ensuring alignment and synergy among all project components, reinforcing the collective commitment to achieving the project’s goals.
The ASEAN ENMAPS Fisheries Orientation marked a step forward in the project’s journey, as it is expected to lay the foundation for successful project implementation.
ASEAN ENMAPS is a regional initiative designed to enhance the management of networks of marine protected areas and marine corridors within selected large marine ecosystems in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. It is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme through the funding of the Global Environment Facility, and with the ACB as the executing agency.