Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Pre-Assessment of Longtail Tuna FIP Tok Bali - Report (Draft)
Pre-Assessment of Longtail Tuna FIP Tok Bali - Report (Draft)
Chitra Devi
Marine Programme Leader
Remove this page once the report is finalised.
i. Typography -
● headlines are in upper cases using Open Sans size 24 in bold;
● subheads are in upper cases using Open Sans font size 14 in bold;
● body copy, captions, and data (charts and tables) are using Georgia font size
(minimum) 11 (in bold whichever necessary for little highlights, or in italic for words
that best described or used in its native language other than in English, however, must
be briefly described to explain its meaning), in primary colours;
● first paragraph without indentation, second and thereafter paragraphs under each
heading or subhead with 1.00 of its first line indent where all texts in body copies must
be 1.15 line spacing with 12.00 for before and after list spacing items.
● headlines, subheads, and body copy are justified, except, captions for figures in centre
at the bottom with figures positioned in centre, and captions for tables are justified at
the above with tables positioned as following other lines that are justified.
ii. Tone of Voice - refer the WWF Editorial Guidelines when addressing the names, places,
animals, political divisions, compass points, topographical names, seasons, and when using
punctuations.
iii. The whole report layout and design must be reviewed by WWF-Malaysia’s Communications
Department, hence, the Consultant has to engage the Project Manager for further
consultations regarding the uses of WWF-Malaysia’s Publication Guidelines.
Assessments:
i. Full version of the actual template Version 3.3
ii. By Performance Indicators.
BlueSeed Indonesia
Jl. Sukolilo Sejahtera 1 Surabaya,
East Java 60111,
Indonesia
blueseed.or.id
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
The opinions of the authors in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of Blue Seed
Indonesia. The report shall note that a pre-assessment does not attempt to duplicate a full
assessment against the MSC Fisheries Standard. A full assessment involves a group of
assessment team members and public consultation stages that are not included in a
pre-assessment. A pre-assessment provides a provisional assessment based on a limited set of
information provided by the client. The CAB may add other details specific to this pre-assessment
as appropriate. The CAB should outline any limitations placed on this pre-assessment e.g.
inaccessibility of the fishery or paucity of key data. MSC Pre-Assessment Reporting Template
Version 3.3 is used to develop this reporting document.
Suggested citation:
Fachri, F.R., Jaenudin, A., Damora, A. (2023). Pre-Assessment of Longtail Tuna Fishery Improvement
Project. East Java: Blue Seed Indonesia.
i
PRE-ASSESSMENT OF LONGTAIL TUNA
FISHERY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
IN TOK BALI
A REPORT PREPARED BY
Faridz Rizal Fachri, Agus Jaenudin, Adrian Damora
FROM BLUE SEED INDONESIA FOR PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS
30 JUNE 2023
ii
CONTENTS
CONTENTS iii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY v
RINGKASAN EKSEKUTIF vi
GLOSSARY vi
LIST OF FIGURES ix
LIST OF TABLES x
INTRODUCTION 1
PRE-ASSESSMENT RESULTS 5
Overview 5
Recommendations 5
PRINCIPLE 1 14
Background 15
STOCK STATUS 17
Catch Profiles 23
PRINCIPLE 2 36
Background 37
Primary Species 39
Secondary Species 40
ETP Species 41
Habitat 45
Ecosystem 45
iii
PRINCIPLE 3 67
Background 68
APPENDICES 91
Site Visits 91
REFERENCES 117
iv
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Unit of Certification (UoC) under the pre-assessment is LOT purse seine fishery in the
East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia (ECPM) waters, as part of South China Sea’s stock (Western,
and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission/WCPFC region). The LOT purse seine vessels capacity
varies from 40 to 70 GRT that fishing in zone C-C2 (12 to > 30 nm). This fishery constitutes a
significant portion of multispecies fisheries for small neritic tuna that are utilised by small-scale
commercial and artisanal fishing. The fisheries management of Malaysia is mandated and
declared through provisions of the Fisheries Act 1985 (317).
The LOT fishery on the ECPM waters is highly likely identified as a transboundary fishery. In
addition, WCPFC has not covered LOT as a focus of work in this region. The stock status of LOT
has high uncertainty due to insufficient data coverage, impacting the absence of harvest strategy
and fishery specific management. The LOT purse seine fishing in ECPM producing multispecies
catch which dominated by scad (Decapterus spp.), kawakawa/KAW (Euthynnus affinis), LOT
(Thunnus tonggol), frigate tuna/FRI (Auxis thazard), unwanted and low value fishes. No primary
species identified, and rarely ETP species probably caught by the fishing gears. Furthermore, the
monitoring and information to understand the key ecosystem elements is not clearly defined,
although LOT is mainly at the higher trophic levels, but their impact on the fungsional composition
is undescribed.
The Regional Fishery Body (RFB) for neritic tuna management within the Southeast Asia
Waters region doesn't exist. This condition affects the absence of a legal dispute framework as a
mechanism for the resolution in the region. Nevertheless, the quality of the Monitoring, Control, and
Surveillance (MCS) implementation is unconvincingly executed, due to unclear evidence and
reports to monitor the transboundary happened within the fishery. In addition, the evaluation and
review mechanism for specific fisheries management measures for LOT in the UoA is not in place.
Eventually, the pre-assessment of the LOT purse seine fishery in Tok Bali, Kelantan,
Malaysia failed against the MSC standard, not recommended to proceed full assessment, unless
specific improvement actions are addressed, i.e. stock management, partial strategy for secondary
species and ecosystem, and execution of effective fishery specific management, involving its MCS,
review and evaluation. The implementation of these corrective actions is expected to change the
low performance indicators within LOT fishery toward sustainable use of LOT resources in the
future.
v
RINGKASAN EKSEKUTIF
Will be filled up by Fadzliee once BlueSeed Indonesia has completed the English draft.
>text
vi
GLOSSARY
KAW Kawakawa
CA Consequence Analysis
vii
1
SICA Scale Intensity Consequence Analysis
viii
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2. Two areas (Pacific Ocean side and Indian Ocean side in the SE Asian 17
waters) used for stock and risk assessments of LOT
Figure 4. Status of LOT in the Pacific Ocean in 2013 and 2018 based on Kobe 18
Plot
Figure 10. The length frequency distribution of LOT landed in Tok Bali 26
Figure 11. The catch composition group of LOT purse seine fishing in ECPM 37
during 2017- 2018
Figure 13. The secondary species identified from purse-seiner in ECPM during 40
2017-2018
Figure 14. The migration pathways of Chelonia mydas through satellite tracking 44
within the South China Sea
Figure 17. The purse-seiner of Tok Bali trajectory in 2013 and the distribution of 70
purse-seiner fishing vessels operation in zone C & C2, ECPM in 2018
Figure 18. Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) for Malaysia’s entities to prevent 75
IUU fishing within Malaysia waters
ix
LIST OF TABLES
Table 8 ETP species are probably caught by the LOT purse seine fisheries under 41
UoA
.Table 9. The classification of the fishing zone and utilisation in Malaysia waters 70
Table 10. The list of relevant stakeholders for LOT fishery management in 72
Malaysia
Table 14. PSA productivity and susceptibility attributes and scores for fish and 95
invertebrates
Table 15 Productivity Susceptibility Analysis (PSA) elements of sea turtles and 109
cetacean
Table 16 PSA productivity and susceptibility attributes and scores for sea turtles 110
& cetacean, PI 2.3.1 ETP Species
x
INTRODUCTION
This condition has been leading the global-seafood producer to shift their seafood product
to be more sustainable or responsible. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) - certified seafood
engaged with 539 fisheries units globally (59 countries) during 2021-2022 and predicted an
increase in the recent and upcoming years. The retail sales value generated up to US $ 12.28 billion
(MSC, 2022). The MSC is an independent, global, non-profit organisation which has established a
third-party certification for sustainable fishing. The detailed and specific indicators within the MSC
standards need special attention to achieve the full-assessment in the future through the
implementation of Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) by involving fishery stakeholders i.e.
government, fishers community, processors, NGO, and other stakeholders who are related to this
issue.
The major LOT utilisation in the Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) operate in
Southeast Asia, primarily the Gulf of Thailand and the South China Sea are primarily caught by
purse-seine and drift gillnet, and to a lesser extent by hook and line (primarily trolling, but also
includes handline and small longlines), particularly in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia
(Raja Bidin and Rumpet, 1990; Kamarruddin and Raja Bidin, 1991; Chullasorn, 1995; Yonemori et al.,
1995, Lewis, 2006; Nootmorn, 2015; Siriraksophon, 2017). Since LOT is regarded as a single unit
stock for Indo Pacific Ocean region (Willey et al., 2016; Griffiths et al., 2020; (Ghani & Asmat, 2022)
and highly likely transboundary occurs within the fishery (Siriraksophon, 2017), its apparent
challenge to leveraging the management authority into the stock unit coverage.
The LOT fishing in the ECPM, mostly landed in Tok Bali and increased significantly since
1988. The targeted fishing ground (zone C-C2), ECPM waters is part of WCPFC, but at the moment,
page 1 of 120
WCPFC has not covered LOT as focus of work in this region. The reason is WCPFC does not
consider LOT as a highly migratory species (referred to Annex I lists, UNCLOS 1982). This fishing
activity potentially led to overfishing and overfished conditions if adjustment actions were not
carried out. The resilience of fishing pressure for LOT is categorised as medium where minimally 4
- 4.4 years is needed for the population to double their biomass. Moreover, LOT's vulnerability to
extinction is moderate to high vulnerability (Fishebase, 2023).
The aim of this pre-assessment is to provide the management authority to have a good
understanding of the LOT fishery within the UoA against MSC standard. This is necessary as a
basis for FIP action plan developments to address the issues that may arise, and adjust the
management action toward sustainability of the LOT fishery resources against the MSC standard
in the future. There were no specific constraints encountered in the pre-assessment process. The
WWF Malaysia team has been providing reference materials, and coordinating with the key
stakeholders for discussion and interviews sessions.
page 2 of 120
UNIT OF ASSESSMENT (UoA)
Table 1: Unit of Assessment (UoA).
UoA Description
1
*) Identified commercial purse seine fisheries exist under QL Resources Berhard that utilise LOT in the ECPM waters
page 3 of 120
TRACEABILITY WITHIN THE FISHERY
The LOT purse seine fishery that landed in Tok Bali is fishing at the C-C2 zone of the ECPM
waters area. The vessel's capacity varies from 10 GRT up to 40-70 GRT. Regarding the workers,
there are 231 local fishers, 1,057 fishers employed from Thailand (90%), and the remaining were
from local communities. The capacity and skill gap is a major issue for a large number of workers
from Thailand. In addition, reportedly 95% of the LOT landings were exported to Thailand (Ghani &
Asmat, 2022), and currently, there are no MSC-certified fisheries in Malaysia. It is convinced that
the Thailand supply chains also have a main role in this circumstance. Detailed information related
to LOT fisheries traceability is shown in Table 2 below.
But mixing identified for the landed catch may occur within the supply
chain, both transported domestically or to Thailand. This rising
conviction shows that the risk of mixing is medium to high.
Are there any other risks of No, at the moment none of the LOT fisheries are certified within UoA.
mixing or substitution
between certified and
non-certified fish?
page 4 of 120
PRE-ASSESSMENT RESULTS
Overview
The LOT fishery in the UoA is operating in the South China Sea as part of Indo-Pacific
waters. LOT as neritic-pelagic fishery has middle to high migration within the stock, as their
connection and roles within the ecosystem are strongly affected by the ocean circulation and
dynamic in the region. The LOT is mostly utilised by the small-scale purse-seine vessels and gill
net operation both commercially or artisanal in the Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea. ECPM as
part of Malaysia waters contributed the national neritic tuna production to provide domestic
nutrition and revenue. Transboundary is highly likely to happen within the fishery, but unfortunately
the LOT is not under WCPFC’s concern. It has been reflected in the absence of RFB in the region as
a legal framework to design, agree and implement management measures toward sustainability
use of the resources.
The existing information is available but indicating uncertainty due to the data quality
issues unconvincing to produce adequate stock assessment and information. The other key
challenges arise regarding the purse seiner resulting in multispecies from low to moderate trophic
level. Scad and trash fishes are two-top commodities of the catch which are LOT and KAW
thereafter. Secondary and ETP species monitoring is required in accordance with the
strengthening evidence to confirm the fishing impact does not harm the ecosystem.
Legislative framework and long term objective toward sustainable fisheries mandated
through provisions of the Fisheries Act 1985 (317), despite specific fishery management for LOT in
the UoA is not in place. “Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security
for the ASEAN Region Towards 2030” adopted by ASEAN Senior Officials and Ministers was yet
more general than LOT specifically, in the same with “Strategic Plan Tuna Industry Development -
South China Sea, Sulu Sea and Sulawesi Sea 2021 - 2030”. At the moment, DOF Malaysia is
developing the specific neritic tuna management for ECPM waters. The specific objectives should
be well defined and measurable through transparent decision-making and evaluation. MCS
mechanism has to be well reported and accessed to the public. Improvement action required to
shift the underperform-indicators to be more closely with the MSC standard.
Recommendations
The following recommendations proposed to move the fishery towards a more sustainable
and closer to the MSC standard. These recommendations could be used as reference to produce a
proper FIP action plan of LOT fishery in ECPM waters. Regular review might be encouraged to track
the progress and accuracy of the recommendations to answering the findings (Table 3).
page 5 of 120
Table 3. Recommendations for Performance Indicators
Performance Indicators Recommendations
Outcome
1.1.1 Stock Status Recommendation 1. Strengthen robust catch and effort data
collection for LOT fishery through mandatory log books, this
include other eligible fisheries that fishing on the same stock
(1.1.1; 1.2.3).
1.1.2 Stock Rebuilding Recommendation 3. Determine and set the target reference point
based on the appropriate proxy(s) indicators as reference for HCR
development involving the review and evaluation toward its
effectiveness in order to ensure the harvest strategy is working
within the unit of the stock. (1.2.1; 1.1.2; 1.2.2; 3.2.4).
Harvest Strategy
1.2.1 Harvest Strategy Recommendation 3. Determine and set the target reference point
based on the appropriate proxy(s) indicators as reference for HCR
development involving the review and evaluation toward its
effectiveness in order to ensure the harvest strategy is working
within the unit of the stock. (1.2.1; 1.1.2; 1.2.2; 3.2.4).
1.2.2 Harvest Control Recommendation 3. Determine and set the target reference point
Rules and Tools based on the appropriate proxy(s) indicators as reference for HCR
development involving the review and evaluation toward its
effectiveness in order to ensure the harvest strategy is working
within the unit of the stock. (1.2.1; 1.1.2; 1.2.2; 3.2.4).
1.2.3 Information and Recommendation 1. Strengthen robust catch and effort data
Monitoring collection for LOT fishery through mandatory log books, this
include other eligible fisheries that fishing on the same stock
(1.1.1; 1.2.3).
Primary Species
page 6 of 120
2.1.3 Information N/A
Secondary Species
Habitats
Ecosystem
page 7 of 120
of neritic tuna or purse seine fishery to prevent irreversible harm to
ecosystem structure and function (2.5.2).
3.1.2 Consultation, Roles Recommendation 10. Enhance the consultation platform and
and Responsibilities comprehensive decision-making system for management actions
is available, transparent, and effective, responding to disputes
(3.1.1; 3.1.2; 3.2.2).
3.2.2 Decision Making Recommendation 10. Enhance the consultation platform and
Process comprehensive decision-making system for management actions
is available, transparent, and effective, responding to
disputes/issues as well (3.1.2; 3.2.2).
page 8 of 120
3.2.4 Management Recommendation 3. Determine and set the target reference point
Performance Evaluation based on the appropriate proxy(s) indicators as reference for HCR
development involving the review and evaluation toward its
effectiveness in order to ensure the harvest strategy is working
within the unit of the stock. (1.2.1; 1.2.2; 3.2.4).
Recommendation 15. Ensure the fisheries specific management
performance within UoA is reviewed and evaluated both internally
and occasionally-externally as responsiveness of the management
measure (3.2.4).
The pre-assessment results showed there are 4 performance indicators under Principle 1
that do not meet the minimum level of SG 60 related to harvest control rules, harvest strategy,
information and monitoring, also assessment of stock status. There are also similar conditions
with the 8 performance indicators under Principle 2, and 4 performance indicators under Principle
3 that do not meet the MSC standard. The main concerns under Principle 2 are interventions
needed to maintain the secondary - ETP species, and ecosystem function, while fishery specific
objectives, decision-making processes, effective MCS, and management performance evaluation
for LOT within UoA are main findings under Principle 3, therefore unqualified to pass the minimum
level of SG 60. Overall, 16 performance indicators identified as >60, 5 indicators scored 60-79,
and 7 indicators passed the SG 80 of MSC standard. Detailed information about the summary of
the pre-assessment scores is shown in Table 4 and graphs below.
page 9 of 120
Principle 3 – Effective management 4
page 10 of 120
1.2.4 – Assessment of stock status <60 Yes
For the South China Sea, a stock assessment has been conducted. With the use of only national
statistics only from four countries as well as the lack of a peer review the score will not meet SG
80. SG 60-79 is not met.
2.1.1 – Primary Outcome ≥80 No
No primary species identified, pass by default.
2.1.2 – Primary Management ≥80 No
No primary species identified, pass by default.
2.1.3 – Primary Information ≥80 No
No primary species identified, pass by default.
2.2.1 – Secondary Outcome <60 Yes
The LOT purse seine fishing in the ECPM waters firmly indicated multispecies catches, dominated
by scad, LOT, KAW, FRI, low value and unwanted catch (small pelagic fishes), even the C2 - LOT
purse seiners tend to be dominated by the neritic tuna species. Unfortunately, not all species are
clearly defined at the UoA. Due to lack of adequate data, PSA applied in this circumstance (fail,
<60) (page 95 -107). SG 60-79 is not met.
2.2.2 – Secondary Management <60 Yes
The secondary species management and strategy is not in place. SG 60-79 is not met.
2.2.3 – Secondary Information 60 – 79 Yes
Some and/or partial data and information about the secondary species is available but likely not
adequate to estimate the impact of the LOT purse seine fishery for the bycatch, both retained or
unwanted fishes, as well as its changes in every season and periode. SG 100 is not met.
2.3.1 – ETP Outcome <60 Yes
Anecdotal information indicates that interactions of the fishing gear with ETP biota rarely
happens, but this findings has not been supported with sufficient data to ascertain the fishery
does not hinder recovery of ETP species. Therefore, PSA used to address this performance
indicator (fail, <60) (page 110- 114). SG 60-79 is not met.
2.3.2 – ETP Management <60 Yes
ETP species that are potentially found in the fishing ground within ECPM waters are protected by
the Fisheries Act 1985, except for Tursiops aduncus. There are the Regional and National Plan of
Action for ETP marine species conservation in the region. Unfortunately, the adequate
information or report as evidence that effective ETP species management in place is unavailable.
SG 60-79 is not met.
2.3.3 – ETP Information <60 Yes
There is no clear information to assess the ETP caught and their mortality whether the fishery is
potentially a threat to recovery of the ETP species in the region. SG 60-79 is not met.
2.4.1 – Habitats Outcome ≥80 Yes
page 11 of 120
There is no interaction between the fishing gear with the sea bed. The CSA used in this
circumstance showed its operation has a low-risk impact on the habitat (≥80) (page 115). Pass
by default.
2.4.2 – Habitats Management ≥80 No
There is no specific strategy to address. Pass by default.
2.4.3 – Habitats Information ≥80 No
No information required. Pass by default.
2.5.1 – Ecosystems Outcome <60 Yes
The lack of information on the LOT to represent their position within the food web in the pelagic
ecosystem raises doubts that key ecosystem elements are unaffected by existing fishing
activities. SICA used in this circumstance (fail, <60), due to potential high-risk for functional group
composition (page 116). SG 60-79 is not met.
2.5.2 – Ecosystems Management <60 Yes
The management measures (design, implementation, and evaluation) to prevent ecosystem
structure and function from irreversible harm by purse-seine fishing both at ECPM waters and at
the unit of the stock are not in place. SG 60-79 is not met.
2.5.3 – Ecosystems Information <60 Yes
Sufficient data is unavailable for the ecosystem as impact of the fishing, including the information
on key elements, impact on UoA, and component functions, to detect any risk to be inferred. SG
60-79 is not met.
3.1.1 – Legal and customary framework 60 – 79 Yes
Malaysia has a clear legal framework for fishery management authority under DOF as stated
within Fisheries Act 1985 (317). The absence of LOT as focussed-commodity under WCPFC
arising challenges on how to address and manage the LOT in the UoA. The national legal system
in Malaysia and existing framework initiated by SEAFDEC in ASEAN likely have not been applied
effectively to address the LOT management in the region. This condition is also affecting the
absence of a legal dispute framework as a mechanism for the resolution in the region. None of
the information and measures has been implemented demonstrating that the fishery has an
effective multi-lateral management framework. SG 100 is not met.
3.1.2 – Consultation, roles and responsibilities 60 – 79 Yes
The roles and responsibilities for fishery management in Malaysian waters are explicitly defined,
well understood, and in place for all areas of responsibility and interaction. The consultation
process provides an opportunity for the fishers or the community to join the forum through Majlis
Perundingan Industri (MPI) and fishers association. However, no clear evidence or measure is
documented to prove the consideration of the information obtained and explained to the public
from the consultation process applied. SG 100 is not met.
3.1.3 – Long term objectives ≥80 No
The fisheries management of Malaysia has clear long-term objectives explicitly stated through
several acts and enactments, mainly Fisheries Act 1985 (317) that appointed the fishery
management should be developed and decided based on the scientific information available
page 12 of 120
consistent with sound conservation and management principles and with the avoidance of
overfishing, and by the overall national policies, development plans, and programs. SG 100 is met.
3.2.1 – Fishery specific objectives <60 No
The Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) for tuna (including neritic tuna) developed by DOF in early
2010. However this FMP is no longer available for access after it ends in 2020. Otherwise,
currently the DOF is developing the specific neritic tuna management for ECPM waters. The
detailed information about those previous achievements and current progress is unavailable, i.e.
the scopes, objectives, actions, and progress, also how it will be reviewed and monitored. In
addition, the “Strategic Plan of Tuna Industry Development - South China Sea, Sulu Sea and
Sulawesi Sea 2021 - 2030” by DOF tend to focus on oceanic tuna management, which doesn't
really address the LOT management that comply with principle 1 and principle 2 of MSC standard
in the Malaysian waters.
At the regional level, the Regional Plan Of Action (RPOA) neritic-tuna was already proposed by
SEAFDEC in 2015, however, it seems not enough to cover LOT stock management within UoA,
including how it is reflected and synchronised within the ASEAN countries’ fishery management
plan. High criteria for the fishery-specific objective both to be broadly consistent with MSC
principles 1 and 2, or even achieving well-defined and measurable short and long-term objectives
is not met. SG 100 is not met.
3.2.2 – Decision making processes <60 Yes
Fishery-specific management for LOT in the UoA is not in place, a precautionary approach within
the fishery management explicitly endorsed, but the absence of the RFB in the region level affects
the clarity of appropriate-authority as decision maker to achieving and to agreeing the
management objective transparently with the stakeholders. This is also relevant with how the
dispute appearing within the LOT fishery in the UoA is precautionarily resolved. SG 60-79 is not
met.
3.2.3 – Compliance and enforcement <60 Yes
The MCS instrument and cooperation in Malaysia and regional waters (RPOA-IUU) are
quite-complete. However, the quality of the MCS implementation does not yet exhibit that the
system is comprehensive and consistent, supported by convincing evidence and reports that LOT
fishery complies with the regulations. These include how the fishery is managed and enforced
through robust harvest strategy and control rules. Without this circumstance, the fishery is going
to fail. SG 60-79 is not met.
3.2.4 – Management performance evaluation <60 Yes
The Monitoring and evaluation mechanism/system to assess the performance of the
fishery-specific management system against its objectives is not in place. SG 60-79 is not met.
page 13 of 120
PRINCIPLE 1
page 14 of 120
Background
The East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia (ECPM) is part of the South China Sea, which on a
broader scope, is part of the Pacific Ocean. The Unit of Assessment (UoA) in this study was the
species of longtail tuna (LOT) (Figure 1) caught using purse seines in Tok Bali, Kelantan, Malaysia.
The UoA includes fishers based in Tok Bali and catch LOTs in ECPM.
Fishers in Tok Bali began to catch this species intensively in the 2000s. LOT is a neritic or
shallow water tuna species that lives less than 200m deep. LOT has slimmer physical
characteristics and shorter pectoral fins than other tuna types. LOT generally has a length of 70 cm
FL and weight 35.9 kg (Collette & Nauen, 1983) with a maximum length of 145 cm FL (IGFA, 2017).
There is no information on the fertilised eggs on LOT. Chayakul and Chamchang (1988)
described the morphological development of LOT larvae captured in the Gulf of Thailand. Larvae of
this species have been collected in the Gulf of Thailand in January, February, April, May, and June
(Chayakul and Chamchang, 1988) and off the west coast of Thailand in February, March, and April
(Boonragsa, 1987). Larvae have also been reported from Malacca Straits (Wilson, 1981) and the
South China Sea (Chen and Wei, 1981). There are relatively few reported collections of LOT larvae;
the paucity of larval and postlarval specimens of this species may be due either to the fact that its
distribution is restricted to the neritic regime or to misidentification as a more common,
better-known species.
Immature LOT, as small as 20 cm, are captured by luring purse seines off the west coast of
Thailand. Preadults were also captured during exploratory fishing cruises by pole and line and troll
line off this coast. The smallest fish captured by these gears were 24 and 28 cm, respectively.
Immature with the mode at 30 cm was captured during exploratory fishing cruises in March 1980
and February 1981 (Yesaki, 1982). Many schools of immature fishes were sighted during these
months but were fished only for samples because of the small size of the fish (Lee, 1982).
Twenty-two-cm immature are recruited to the purse-seine fishery in the Gulf of Thailand
(IPTP, 1985) and slightly larger fish (26 cm) enter the troll fishery off the east coast of Peninsular
Malaysia (IPTP, 1986). Preadults are captured in drift gillnets at Cochin in February (Silas et al.,
1986) and at Mangalore in October (Muthiah, 1986).
page 15 of 120
Throughout the Southeast Asian region, tunas are commonly found and abundant,
including several species of oceanic and neritic tunas. While the oceanic tunas migrate over larger
areas, the neritic tunas such as longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol), kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis),
frigate tuna (Auxis thazard), and bullet tuna (Auxis rochei) are more common within the economic
zones and sub-regional seas of Southeast Asia. However, there are still uncertainties on the
distribution, migration utilisation of neritic tuna stocks in the waters and sub-regions of
Southeast Asia. Without further clarification and dialogue, it would be difficult to develop
appropriate tuna management plans at national and sub-regional levels.
While management efforts with regards to the exploitation of oceanic tunas in the Pacific
Ocean is covered by recommendations provided by the West Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
(WCPFC), there are important work to be done within the Southeast Asian Region to promote
common approaches to management of the utilisation of neritic tunas. To ensure the sustainable
use of available regional resources, it is crucial to seek collaborative management plans for neritic
tuna fisheries in the region and sub-regions. Regional collaboration has been, and will continue to
be, crucial for the sustainability of these rich and important trans-boundary resources. This was
also emphasised by the 45th SEAFDEC Council Meeting in 2013 that called for the development of
a plan of action regional cooperation on neritic tunas in the Southeast Asian Region (paragraphs
65, 66 and 70 of the SEAFDEC Council Report).
DNA samples acquired from the South China Sea, Andaman Sea, and Semporna-Sulu Sea
were used to examine the LOT population. Five dominant haplotypes discovered by DNA analysis,
however statistical analysis revealed no significant genetic difference across the twelve sample
places. As a result, LOT in the South China Sea, Andaman Sea, and Sulu Sea are all part of the
same stock (Jamon et al., 2021; Syahida et al., 2020). Furthermore, genotyping of microsatellite
markers to analyse the genetic structure of LOT in the Southeast Asian region revealed that the
region's LOT is a single stock (Kunal et al., 2014; Willette et al., 2016; Kasim et al., 2020).
It was proposed that the LOT population be managed as a single stock. The Scientific
Working Group (SWG) 5 of SEAFDEC then suggested using the study results as a reference since
genetic stock and fisheries stock may be separated in light of the management issue. Under these
conditions, SEAFDEC/MFRDMD implemented this recommendation and conducted stock and risk
assessments of LOT in two areas (stocks): Pacific Ocean side and Indian Ocean side. (Figure 2).
page 16 of 120
Figure 2. Two areas (Pacific Ocean side and Indian Ocean side in the SE Asian waters)
used for stock and risk assessments of LOT
The two series of stock assessments of LOT was conducted by SEAFDEC in cooperation
with the Member Countries in February 2020, with the conjecture that these species inhabited
Fishing Areas 57 and 71 (Figure 3). The results of the second assessment were compared to the
previous assessment in 2016 which was conducted using A Stock-Production Model Incorporating
Covariates (ASPIC), Kobe Plot I-II, and risk assessment (MFRDMD, 2021).
page 17 of 120
Figure 4. Status of LOT in the Pacific Ocean in 2013 and 2018 based on Kobe Plot
(source: SEASOFIA, 2022).
Figure 5. Risk assessment of LOT in the Pacific Ocean side (South China Sea) 2018 (source:
SEASOFIA, 2022).
In the Pacific Ocean side (South China Sea), the stock status of longtail tuna in 2013 was
in the green zone (safe) as shown in Figure 4, indicating zero probability of uncertainties to be in
red, orange, and yellow zones. It was then suggested to increase the catch and fishing pressure
but it should be less than their MSY and FMSY levels, at 200,000 mt and 1.07, respectively. Since the
2018 Kobe plot also showed that the stock status of LOT remained healthy with a 100% probability
of being in the green zone (safe), it is therefore suggested that the current catch at 124,000 mt
could be increased to the MSY level of 167,000 mt because the probability of total biomass and
fishing mortality violating their MSY levels is less than 50% as shown in Figure 5.
However, the data sources used to determine stock status do not include all fisheries
fishing the LOT. The stock status only used the nominal CPUE from two fisheries, Thai Purse
Seine (Gulf of Thailand) and Malaysia Purse Seine (Sarawak). CPUE data from the other member
countries are categorised as not plausible data. This condition causes the estimation of biomass
stocks to have uncertainty. In fact, LOT fisheries in ECPM and Indonesia, for example, have a high
contribution to exploitation in the South China Sea.
page 18 of 120
Stock Rebuilding
The data sources used to determine stock status do not include all fisheries catching LOTs,
causing the estimation of total biomass and fishing rate to have quite high uncertainties. Even
though stock rebuilding is not required for this case, due to the uncertainty that exists, the
effectiveness of rebuilding strategies in rebuilding the stock is hard to be achieved.
Harvest Strategy
The harvest strategy sets out the management actions necessary to attain defined
ecological and sometimes economic objectives in a particular fishery, including achieving the
management objectives expressed in the target and limit reference points. Malaysia has long
implemented management measures for its multispecies fisheries. Malaysia was the first country
in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to develop a plan of action for the
management of fishing capacity as a model for ASEAN member states (Department of Fisheries
Malaysia, 2015a). The implementation of multiple management measures has led to valuable
progress for Malaysian fisheries. Input controls to limit fishing efforts were established and are
now combined with technical controls for marine-resource conservation and recovery (Department
of Fisheries Malaysia, 2015b).
The implementation of output controls through an individual quota system (IQS) also was
planned (Department of Fisheries Malaysia, 2008). A feasibility study of the IQS for the purse-seine
fishery in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia (ECPM) has been initiated, but no assessment of
the measure and feasibility of its implementation has been confirmed (Department of Fisheries
Malaysia, 2015a). The IQS is set for the total catch, since the data collected are not categorised by
species (Jamaludin et al., 2017), as a consequence of the multispecies characteristic of the
fisheries (Kato, 2008).
The neritic tuna management in ECPM waters is under development by DOF Malaysia,
therefore specific management of LOT in Malaysia waters or ECPM is not ready yet, likewise the
harvest strategy of LOT in the UoA. The clarity needed to make sure whether the harvest strategy
for LOT (IQS) is updated and included in the management plan as a measurement tool and
approach to maintain the stock in the green zone (healthy stock).
In conclusion, there are no elements that make up the current harvest strategy and no
current stock status is considered as evidence that the harvest strategy has been effectively
implemented by the fisheries authorities. There was also no evidence that alternative measures
were in place to reduce the mortality resulting from the unwanted catch of the target stock. In
contrast, almost 41% of LOT In UoA had reached or exceeded the length of the first maturity.
HCR is available to manage the LOT catch, but it has yet to be formally agreed upon. The
LOT stock in ECPM is currently above a level where reduced effort or other control is required
page 19 of 120
(B>BMSY and not expected to decrease). Evidence suggests that the HCR used for LOT effectively
controls exploitation as all indicators have been within the desired range in recent years, well
above the PRI. The 2013’s stock status of LOT in the Pacific side of Peninsular Malaysia is in the
green (safe) zone of the Kobe plot, i.e., TB/TBMSY=2.22 and F/FMSY=0.18 implying that TB is 122%
higher than the MSY level and F is 82% lower than the MSY level. As a consideration, these
waters have no new Kobe plot of LOT stock. Thus, a suitable HCR is considered 'unavailable’ for
the fishery.
There is no evidence that uncertainties were recognized and accounted for in the HCR.
Uncertainties may include incorrect assumptions in stock estimation, uncertainty about the effects
of environmental changes, uncertainty about the attributes of life history parameters of the target
species, data and reporting errors, uncertainty about stock limits, fishery mortality which is not
considered such as from IUU, and others. Other odd evidence also shows that the LOT catches in
ECPM are dominated by fish that have not yet matured, contrary to the stock status in 2013,
which was in the green zone (healthy stock) category.
The HCR was prepared with high uncertainties, and the means to control the rate of
exploitation were not found in any documents. Control includes restrictions through quotas and
supporting measures, such as permits and fishing logbooks.
Information/ Monitoring
Basic information about stock structure (geographical range and size composition) is
available. In addition, data on catch and composition of fishing efforts are also available to provide
information for stock estimation; however, these data are only partially available, so they cannot be
said to be comprehensive.
page 20 of 120
A
B
Figure 6. Fishing area of LOT fishery based in Tok Bali (A) and the worldwide distribution of LOT
and the four putative stocks based on best-available information from genetic, morphometric and
tagging studies (B)
page 21 of 120
Although data is available, fishery authorities do not actively monitor CPUE within key
fishing grounds. Furthermore, there is no information about fishery removal activities from other
locations. There may be LOT caught by other fishing fleets outside Tok Bali who fish in the same
UoA, for example, purse seiners from Thailand (Figure 6).
The LOT stock assessment in the Pacific Ocean side (South China Sea) did not specify the
type and source of data and the parameters used in estimating stocks, such as the growth rate.
The stock assessment is not only relative to reference points but also the reference points used
have yet to be estimated from the appropriate estimates for fishery stocks. Furthermore, it has yet
to identify significant uncertainty sources, such as recruitment variability. Stock status is also not
evaluated relative to reference points on a probability basis.
Catch Profiles
Tuna and tuna-like species, small pelagic fishes (e.g., scads, mackerel, anchovies,
sardines), demersal fish species, crabs, mollusks, and seaweeds are among the economically
important marine species that contributed significantly to Southeast Asia's overall fisheries
production in 2019. These species, which are in high demand not only in the Southeast Asian
region but also in other parts of the world, dominate Southeast Asian countries' fishery exports.
The tuna and tuna-like species include the most economically important species referred
to as principal market because of their global economic importance and the intensive international
trade generated for canning and sashimi production. SEAFDEC (2022) reported Southeast Asia's
tuna and tuna-like species production in 2019 accounted for around 14.06% of the region's overall
marine capture fisheries production. Oceanic tuna accounted for roughly 50.7% of total tuna and
tuna-like species production in the region, while tuna-like species accounted for approximately
27.2% of total tuna and tuna-like species production in the region. In 2019, Indonesia, the biggest
tuna producer in Southeast Asia, provided around 68.60% of the region's total tuna production,
followed by the Philippines (22.55%), Malaysia (4.88%), Thailand (2.50%), Vietnam (1.35%), and
Brunei Darussalam (0.12%). Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) contributed the most production
volume (44.27%), followed by yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) at 20.15% and longtail tuna
(Thunnus tonggol) at 11.80% (Figure 7).
In 2019, the region produced 320,052 mt of neritic tuna for FAO Major Fishing Area 71
(Pacific, Western Central), valued at USD 380,575,000. The region's production for LOT was
158,273 mt, with a value of production of USD 101,462,000. LOT production accounts for
approximately 50% of regional production and 27% of value production.
page 22 of 120
The SEAFDEC supported a proposal to strengthen regional cooperation to promote
conservation and management for sustainable neritic tuna fisheries in the Southeast Asian
Waters. Through regional and sub-regional cooperation the countries – and producers – need to
be able to show and verify the sustainability of targeted neritic tuna fisheries. Malaysia, Indonesia,
Thailand, and Brunei Darussalam are the countries in South East Asia which routinely provide
catch and effort data for neritic tunas, including LOT. The historical catch of LOT has also been
compiled from 1979 to 2018 as shown in Figure 7.
Tok Bali is located in the northeastern part of Kelantan, a state in Malaysia. Tok Bali is 48
km from the centre of the state city, namely Kota Bharu. Tok Bali is locally known as a fishing
district with a fishing port managed by the Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia (LKIM). The fishing
port is in Sungai Semerak, with several port facilities, such as an ice factory and warehouse (Ghani
& Asmat, 2022).
Figure 7. A) Percentage of tuna species (left) and tuna-like species (right) production of
Southeast Asia in 2019 by quantity. B) Historical catch of LOT in the Pacific Ocean side (South
China Sea) by country (1979-2018) (source: Jamon et al., 2021).
page 23 of 120
The Department of Fisheries (DOF), a government agency that also deals with fisheries,
collects and manages data to produce fisheries statistics. Since 2008, DOF has collected landing
LOT data at ECPM to calculate stock abundance through catch-per-unit effort (CPUE) analysis.
From 2008 to 2017, CPUE analysis showed an increasing trend in ECPM but decreased in 2018 to
<10 mt/vessel (Figure 8).
DOF Tok Bali and LKIM saw the opportunity of establishing Tok Bali as a fisheries hub with
a stable increase of landings (Figure 9) recorded between 2014 (2,066 mt) to 2020 (22,735 mt).
This hike was encouraged due to the demand from Thailand, mostly for food processing plants, as
reported by the DOF Tok Bali.
page 24 of 120
The slight falls of landings from 2018 to 2020 (an average of 21,077 mt of these 3 years)
from its peak in 2017 (27,239 mt) were caused by the regulation that was enforced to reduce the
employment of foreign workers in vessels, as notified by the officer in DOF Tok Bali. Local workers
who were employed lacked the skill to operate the fishing activity in the large scale sector,
however, due to the advancement of fleets in recent years, the landings were still considered as
high-yielding compared to the landings in the early 2010.
Figure 10. The length frequency distribution of LOT landed in Tok Bali (source: DOF Tok Bali, 2017)
Apart from collecting catch landing data, DOF Tok Bali also collects biological LOT data for
length frequency analysis at Tok Bali. Almost 41% of LOT had reached or exceeded the length of
the first maturity. This analysis shows that LOT catch is still dominated by the juvenile category,
which is predicted to have never spawned during its lifetime.
page 25 of 120
overfishing
The fishery has limited data and there are no recent stock assessment results
that explicitly provide information on estimated biomass in relation to PRI
levels. The CPUE for purse seine on the ECPM showed an increasing trend
Rationale
from 2014 to 2017, then slightly decreased in 2018. There was fluctuation
around the level of 6 mt/vessel/year in the last 10 years (2008-2017) after
recovering from levels lower than 2 mt/vessel/year in 2010.
Met? Yes No
In the latest conducted stock assessment for the South China Sea (Pacific
Ocean side), SEAFDEC conducted a LOT stock assessment, using the ASPIC
method and Kobe plots with data gathered from SEAFDEC member countries.
The current stock status (2018) of LOT in the Kobe plot remained healthy with
Rationale
a 100% probability of being in the green zone (safe), it is therefore suggested
that the current catch at 124,000 mt could be increased to the MSY level of
167,000 mt, because the probability of total biomass and fishing mortality
violating their MSY levels is less than 50%.
Stock Status
Current Stock Status Relative
Relative to Type of Reference Point Value of Reference Point
to Reference Point
Reference Points
Reference point
used in scoring
CPUE 2 mt/vessel/year 6 mt/vessel/year
stock relative to
PRI (SIa)
Reference point
used in scoring
BMSY 167,000 mt 124,000 mt
stock relative to
MSY (SIb)
page 26 of 120
Draft Scoring 60-79
Range
Determination of the latest LOT stock status only used the nominal CPUE from
two fisheries, Thai Purse Seine (Gulf of Thailand) and Malaysia Purse Seine
Information (Sarawak). CPUE data from the other member countries are categorized as not
Gap Indicator plausible data. This condition causes the estimation of biomass stocks to have
uncertainty. In fact, LOT fisheries in ECPM and Indonesia, for example, have a
high contribution to exploitation in the South China Sea.
Data-Deficient? No
PI 1.1.2 Where the stock is reduced, there is evidence of stock rebuilding within a specified timeframe
Rebuilding timeframes
A rebuilding timeframe is
specified for the stock that is The shortest practicable
shorter by 20 years or 2 times rebuilding timeframe is
Guidepost its generation time. For cases specified that does not
where 2 generations is less exceed 1 generation time for
than 5 years, the rebuilding the stock.
timeframe is up to 5 years.
Rationale N/A
Rebuilding evaluation
Met? No No No
The data sources used to determine stock status do not include all fisheries
catching LOTs, causing the estimation of total biomass and fishing rate to
Rationale have quite high uncertainties. Even though stock rebuilding is not required for
this case, due to the uncertainty that exists, this sub indicator cannot be
achieved.
page 27 of 120
Draft Scoring 60-79
Range
Based on the latest LOT status in 2018, the LOT stock is not overfished and is
not subject to overfishing, so a stock rebuilding strategy is not required.
Information
However, the data sources used to determine stock status do not include all
Gap Indicator
fisheries catching LOTs, causing the estimation of total biomass and fishing
rate to have quite high uncertainties.
Met? No No No
There are no elements that make up the current harvest strategy that is
Rationale considered evidence that the harvest strategy has been effectively
implemented by the fisheries authorities.
Met? No No No
page 28 of 120
expected to determine
whether the harvest strategy
is working.
Met? No
Met? No
There is no evidence that the harvest strategy was implemented so the review
Rationale
activities must also not work.
Shark finning
Rationale N/A
Met? No No No
There was no evidence that alternative measures were in place to reduce the
mortality resulting from the unwanted catch of the target stock. In contrast,
Rationale
almost 41% of LOT In UoA had reached or exceeded the length of the first
maturity.
Information The implementation of the individual quota system (IQS) as a harvest control
Gap Indicator in ECPM is still within the multi-species framework so it cannot be ascertained
page 29 of 120
whether LOT stocks have improved or not. IQS determination also cannot be
traced to the model used in the calculation. There is no evidence that a harvest
strategy is implemented and alternative measures are implemented to reduce
the mortality resulting from unwanted catches of target stocks. This concludes
that the fisheries authority has not prepared the harvest strategy for LOT in the
UoA.
Met? No No No
HCR is available to manage the LOT catch, but it has yet to be formally agreed
upon. The LOT stock in ECPM is currently above a level where reduced effort
or other control is required (B>BMSY and not expected to decrease). Evidence
suggests that the HCR used for LOT effectively controls exploitation as all
indicators have been within the desired range in recent years, well above the
PRI. The latest stock status (2018) of LOT in the South China Sea remained
Rationale
healthy with a 100% probability of being in the green zone (safe), it is therefore
suggested that the current catch at 124,000 mt could be increased to the MSY
level of 167,000 mt because the probability of total biomass and fishing
mortality violating their MSY levels is less than 50%. As a consideration, the
fishery has no new Kobe plot of LOT stock. Thus, a suitable HCR is considered
'unavailable’ for the fishery.
page 30 of 120
Met? No No
Evaluation of HCRs
Met? No No No
The HCR was prepared with high uncertainties, and the means to control the
rate of exploitation were not found in any documents. Control includes
Rationale
restrictions through quotas and supporting measures, such as permits and
fishing logbooks.
HCR is available to manage LOT fishery in ECPM but has not been formally
agreed. Existing HCR also have high uncertainties because the type of data
used for stock evaluation and other assumptions needed in stock assessment
Information
cannot be explained. In addition, there is no evidence of input or output control
Gap Indicator
as a tool to limit the exploitation of target fish, such as catch quotas and
supporting measures (permits and fishing logbooks). The implementation of
the IQS as an output control in ECPM is still within the multi-species approach.
Range of information
page 31 of 120
related to stock structure, related to stock structure, information (on stock
stock productivity, and fleet stock productivity, fleet structure, stock productivity,
composition is available to composition, and other data fleet composition, stock
support the harvest strategy. are available to support the abundance, UoA removals,
harvest strategy. and other information such as
environmental information),
including some that may not
be directly related to the
current harvest strategy, is
available.
Met? Yes No No
Monitoring
Met? Yes No No
Comprehensiveness of information
Met? No
Information Reports on the results of data collection on the LOT in the UoA are minimal.
page 32 of 120
Gap Indicator Only SEAFDEC that published some reports on LOT showing the bio-population
information and the catch profiles in the South China Sea. Data collection is
not carried out continuously as a comprehensive stock monitoring effort.
Met? No No
A stock assessment has been conducted for the South China Sea. However,
the actual stock structures are unknown, catch data is based on FAO, IOTC and
data coordinators of the SEAFDEC neritic tuna project. This means that almost
all data are national statistics which has wide range of uncertainties, CPUE are
Rationale
based on Thailand PS and Malaysia-Sarawak PS informations only, as other
plausible CPUE are not available, thus the results are mainly driven by two LOT
fisheries and the series may not be long enough for reliable stock
assessments. There is also no evidence of a stock assessment peer review.
Assessment approach
Met? No No
The stock assessment is not only relative to reference points, but also the
Rationale reference points used have yet to be estimated from the appropriate estimates
for fishery stocks.
Met? No No No
page 33 of 120
The stock assessment has not identified significant uncertainty sources, such
Rationale as recruitment variability. Stock status is also not evaluated relative to
reference points on a probability basis.
Evaluation of assessment
Met? No
Met? No No
Fishery authorities do not carry out internal and external reviews of stock
assessment. Stock assessment reports submitted are not reviewed by
Rationale
independent external entities, such as regional scientific bodies or other
independent external reviewers.
There is only one report related to estimating LOT stocks at South China Sea,
released in 2013 and 2018, and there are no subsequent reports on estimating
Information
stocks. The stock assessment method in the report is not explained in detail,
Gap Indicator
so it cannot be understood whether the life history of LOT parameters is
considered when estimating the stock.
page 34 of 120
PRINCIPLE 2
page 35 of 120
Background
The main objective of Principle 2 is to state that the fishing operations should allow for the
maintenance of the structure, productivity, function, and diversity of the ecosystem (including
habitat and associated dependent and ecologically related species) on which the fishery depends.
The LOT purse seine fishing in the UoC comes from varying fishing fleet capacity from 40-70 GT
(capcity: 10 tonnage) up to >70 GT (capcity: 30 tonnage). These middle to huge dimensions of
purse seine exhibit the capacity and variation of the fishing techniques and catches. The purse
seiners in ECPM used to operate all day both daylight or night, by using lure light as attractor. The
purse seine vessels that operate in zone C2 (landed in Tok Bali) specifically operate without any
FAD (based on the interview), surely this practices minimise the impact of the fishing for habitat.
However, the various purse seine operations led to the diversity of the catch compositions based
on their fleet capacity and the fishing ground.
In general, The LOT purse seines fishing in the ECPM waters firmly indicated multispecies
catches. Harlyan et al., (2021) collected and analysed the LOT purse seine’s catch composition
from 137 sites (zone B, C and C2) within ECPM waters during 2017-2018, including: LKIM Tok Bali,
LKIM Pulau Kambing, LKIM Kuala Besut, LKIM Kuantan, LKIM Endau, and QL Resources Berhard in
Johor. Identified there are 26 species, which are categorised into eleven (11) main groups,
including: a) Decapterus spp (34%), b) trash fishes (20%), c) Thunnus tonggol (13%), d) Euthynnus
affinis (10%), e) Sardinella spp (5%), f) Selar crumenophtalmus (5%), g) mixed fishes (4%), h)
Rastrelliger kanagurta (3%), i) Amblygaster spp (2%), j) Atule mate (2%), and k) Selaroides leptolepis
(2%) (Figure 11). The C2 - LOT purse seiners that landed in Kelantan (2016-2021) have more
specific catches than smaller purse seiners in zone B and C, it showed from the catch
composition dominated by Thunnus tonggol (76%), Auxis thazard (22%), and Euthynnus affinis (2%)
(DOF, 2023). This relates with the fishing ground in C and C2 as part of the pelagic waters
ecosystem.
Figure 11. The catch composition group of LOT purse seine fishing in ECPM during 2017 -
2018
page 36 of 120
The 26 species are distributed widely within ECPM, whereas LOT tends to concentrate in
the middle to the north part of ECPM in the zone of C and C2 (blue box in Figure 12). Otherwise,
the southern part is dominated by the small pelagic (mesopelagic and/or epipelagic fishes) that
are mostly included as trash fishes (low-value fishes). These results could be challenges to
minimising the impact on the fishery for the unwanted catch, and/or immature catch within the
fishery. In order to prevent the risk to the ETP species, purse seine fishing indicated probably
risked. Based on the anecdotal information during the field visit, it is highly indicated that the LOT
purse seine operation rarely caught the ETP species, even if it happened, they were released back
into the waters. But the evidence to prove this good practice is unavailable.
Figure 12. The distribution of the 26 species of LOT purse seine’s catch composition in ECPM
during 2017-2018 in several identified fishing zones (Harlyan et al., 2021).
In addition, there are four species of Sea Turtle (leatherback, green turtle, hawksbill, and
olive ridley) found in Malaysia. It was also reported that various marine mammals were sighted
and stranded on the east coast of the Malaysian peninsula. The overlapping of migration pathways
of sea turtles and marine mammals with the LOT fishing ground convincingly happened within the
operation in ECPM waters (Chan, 2006). As part of the pelagic ecosystem, the interaction within
the food web for every single organism has a potential impact or risk to the trophic level
composition. Understanding the key functional element in the ecosystem helps the authority to
design and implement kind of management actions toward establishing a sustainable ecosystem.
The detailed information on Principle 2 indicators which are assessed available in Table 7 below.
page 37 of 120
Table 7. Information of Principle 2
Component Scoring Elements Designation Data-Deficient
Primary Species - - -
Selar crumenophthalmus
Main Yes
(Bigeye Scad)
Secondary Species
Rastrelliger kanagurta
Minor Yes
(Indian Mackerel)
Amblygaster spp
Minor Yes
(small genus of sardinella)
Dermochelys coriacea
- Yes
(Leatherback turtle)
Lepidochelys olivacea
- Yes
(Olive Ridley Turtle)
Tursiops aduncus
(Indo-pacific bottlenose - Yes
dolphin)
Primary Species
The primary species is defined as the other species caught in the fishery in which the
management tools and measures are in place. The aim of this performance indicator is to ensure
that these other species caught by the fishery are either not depleted, or that there is an assurance
that the fishery under assessment is not hindering the ability of those stocks to recover. The catch
composition of LOT purse seine fishery in ECPM (as shown in Figure 11) have no specific
management action. Therefore, no primary species identified, all of the performance indicators
are passed by default.
page 38 of 120
Secondary Species
Secondary species defined as the unmanaged species identified caught by the LOT purse
seine in the UoA. Identified main and minor secondary species assessed in this assessment based
on the total landings data (Harlyan et al., 2021 & DOF, 2023) and combined with their resiliency
ability in response to the environmental pressure. Decapterus spp, Euthynnus affinis (Kawa
Kawa/KAW), Auxis thazard (Frigate Tuna/FRI), Sardinella spp, and Selar crumenophthalmus are
considered as main due to unless resilient and dominating the landings (≥5%), therefore
Rastrelliger kanagurta, Amblygaster spp, and Atule mate as minor secondary species (Figure 13).
Considering the lack of data to represent their stock, PSA used to score the secondary species
performance and resulted in >60 (fail) (page 95-107).
page 39 of 120
KAW stock in South China Sea waters indicated highly likely in the safe stock (2013 and
2018 data), even if it's indicated in the green zone, but the current catch is higher than the MSY
level in 2018, the catch should still be reduced in order to maintain the stock is remains in a safe
condition. The exploitation rate (E=F/Z) of Decapterus macrosoma, and Decapterus maruadsi in
Malaysia (landed in Tok Bali) in the range of 0.59-0.75 (2003 and 2005 data). In addition, the
exploitation rate of Rastrelliger kanagurta 2003-2005 and 2016-2020 in a row: 0.65 and 0.64, and
there is no exploitation rate information about the rest of secondary species found (SEAFDEC,
2022). Adequate monitoring needed due to lack of data and specific management plan, as long
as it is not in place. The availability of the data to describe the impact of the LOT purse seine
fishing to the bycatch is fundamental to be conducted as reference for management authority to
design and to implement partial strategies.
ETP Species
Endangered, Threatened or Protected (ETP) species are in scope species that are
recognised by national threatened species legislation or species that are listed in binding
international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES). Reflecting on the LOT purse seine fishery in ECPM waters, as stated in the previous
chapter, identified ETP species rarely caught within the LOT fishery operation, but there is no
evidence to prove and clarify that the fishery is not hindering the ETP species. Based on the
available scientific researches about the ETP migration pathways in Malaysia, identified there are 5
ETP species as concerns under this performance indicator (Table 8). In this term, refer to the ETP
species recognized by the national threatened species legislation or species that are listed in
binding international trade in endangered species (CITES). ECPM and South China Sea as part of
the migration path of sea turtles in the region, and identified several nesting-beach area for the
green sea turtle Chelonia mydas (in huge numbers >1000), the hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata
with more moderate nesting numbers (low 100s). Malaysia used to host one of southeast Asia’s
largest leatherback Dermochelys coriacea populations with upwards of 10,000 nests deposited in
the 1950s at Rantau Abang, Terengganu. Solitary nesting olive ridley turtles Lepidochelys olivacea
has been nesting extremely infrequently in Malaysia (Piltcher et al., 2019). All of those species are
fully prohibited by the Malaysian government under International Trade in Endangered Species
Act 2008 (Act 686), therefore all of the utilisation of these species is unpermitted.
Table 8. ETP species are probably caught by the LOT purse seine fisheries under UoA.
Scientific Malaysia
Image (Source: NOAA Fisheries) and Common Name IUCN Status
Name Status
Dermochelys
Vulnerable Prohibited
coriacea
page 40 of 120
Leatherback Turtle
Lepidochelys
Vulnerable Prohibited
olivacea
Chelonia
Endangered Prohibited
mydas
Green Turtle
Eretmochelys Critically
Prohibited
imbricata Endangered
Hawksbill Turtle
page 41 of 120
Tursiops Near
Prohibited
aduncus Threatened
The certain information about the potential catch rate for the ETP species of the LOT
purse seine in the UoA is unclearly defined. The PSA (page 95-107) used to score this
circumstance and indicated high risk (>60) for the ETP species impacted. Moreover, Pilcher et al.,
(2019), revealed the migration pathways of Chelonia mydas through satellite tracking within the
South China Sea (Figure 14). A total of 27 species of marine mammals from 21 genera and seven
families have been recorded in Malaysia. These comprise species known solely from stranding
records, live sightings, or both (Ponnampalam, 2012). Some were recorded on the east coast of
peninsular Malaysia, indicating their migration route may include being in the South China Sea
(Figure 15). It is convincing that the LOT purse seine operation at ECPM has probably encountered
the migration of sea turtles and marine mammals.
Yet its impacts are poorly understood, may include entanglement, direct capture,
behavioural, mortality or migration patterns. These include less understanding of ETP species
treatment and handling by the vessel’s crew applied or not, even retained. Based on the anecdotal
information, shark finning does not happen under the LOT purse seine operation in the UoA,
however, adequate information was used to confirm the uncertainty and state that the fishery
does not hinder ETP species to recovery. Although the impacted ETP species is caught as rarely,
no partial strategies have been implemented to measure the compliance, mitigation action and
proper ETP handling on board. Despite the national plan of action for ETP species in Malaysia
being available, how it effectively implemented and deterred any risk of fishing to the ETP species
is unavailable. In addition, the available information about ETP is broadly separated, and no regular
monitoring to assess the impact of LOT fishing on ETP species within UoA is applied effectively.
page 42 of 120
Figure 14. The migration pathways of Chelonia mydas through satellite tracking within the South
China Sea (Pilcher et al., 2019).
Figure 15. Sighting and Stranding Location of Various Marine Mammals in Peninsula Malaysia
(Ponnampalam, 2012).
Habitat
The fishing operations managed to maintain the structure, productivity, function, and
diversity of the ecosystem on which fishing depends, including other species caught and habitat.
page 43 of 120
The management authority seeks to ensure that the LOT fishery in the targeted UoA does not
cause harmful impacts on habitats and is appropriate to what kind of management is in place to
ensure the quality of the habitat.
The purse seine fishing in Tok Bali and surrounding water operates in an inner-shelf zone
(C and/or C2) without any interaction with the sea bed. Moreover, no FAD used by the LOT purse
seine vessels landed in Tok Bali. No irreversible harm appeared, nor were a specific management
strategy and information or monitoring required. The fishery is default 100 passes. To
corroborate the justification, CSA (page 115) was conducted to measure and did result low-risk.
Ecosystem
The inner shelf zone creates a unique ecosystem for aquatic organisms within pelagic
waters, such as zooplankton, finfish, cephalopods, charismatic species / ETP, etc. They interact
intensely and form a complicated food web system. The ocean circulation dynamic contributes to
nutrient richness and supports primary productivity in the ecosystem. The MSC standard requires
the fishery not to cause irreversible harm to the key elements of the ecosystem or the underlying
ecosystem structure and function pointed to hinder the ecosystem's resilience or recovery ability
from the impact. The role of LOT in the food web is shown by the trophic level in the range of 4.5
± 0.6 (Fishbase, 2023). It represents a high position in the food web, although its actual function in
ecosystem structure is unclear due to lack of evidence.
One of the ways to understand the roles of the LOT within the ecosystem is through diet
habits. The LOT diet studies revealed prey to several organisms such as anchovy, shrimp, squid,
and other epipelagic and mesopelagic fishes. Anchovy dominated the forage up to more than 80%
of their diet (Risti et al., 2019; Saraswati et al., 2020). The characteristics between coastal and
pelagic waters impact the dynamic of the diversity within the ecosystem that led and influence
the types of forage resources eaten by the higher trophic level fish species. Forage fishes are key
energy conduits that transfer primary and secondary productivity to higher trophic levels. As novel
environmental conditions caused by overlapping fishing alter ecosystems and prey-predator
dynamics, it is critical to understand how forage-fish control the bottom-up forcing of food web
dynamics (Grant et al., 2014).
Otherwise LOT, the associate species, such as Euthynnus affinis, Auxis thazard, Atule mate,
and Scomberomorus spp, that prey on small-pelagic (epipelagic fishes). Figure 16 below exhibits
the food web in the pelagic-neritic ecosystem of Central North Pacific (CNP), as referenced for
ECPM cases whereas LOT's role as an intermediate to top predator due to high trophic-level.
Highly-likely that the LOT was not too harmful to the predators (higher trophic level), but the
availability of the forage resources potentially led to determine the sustainability of the LOT.
page 44 of 120
Figure 16. The food web in the pelagic ecosystem of CNP as reference (Hinke et al., 2004)
Hinke et al., (2004), stated that the impact of the purse seine fisheries have had the
strongest effects in upper trophic level in Central North Pacific (CNP), but that lower trophic levels
may respond more strongly to purse seine fisheries. In the South China Sea, small-pelagic fisheries
are one of target commodities, part of important components of the marine ecosystem and
pelagic fishery resources.
The lack of information on the LOT to represent their position within associated fisheries
in the pelagic-environment and how it is impacted by the unwanted species (as bycatch) raises
doubts that key ecosystem elements are unaffected by existing fishing activities. Furthermore,
the analysis to understand and to account the important roles of LOT and the impact of the fishery
to the pelagic ecosystem within the ECPM waters needed to discover the relationship among
them. Moreover, Figure 17 showed there was uncertainty that those operations were consistent.
PI 2.1.1 The UoA aims to maintain primary species above the point where recruitment would be impaired
page 45 of 120
(PRI) and does not hinder recovery of primary species if they are below the PRI
Rationale N/A
Data-Deficient? N/A
There is a strategy in place that is designed to maintain or to not hinder rebuilding of primary
PI 2.1.2 species, and the UoA regularly reviews and implements measures, as appropriate, to minimise
the mortality of unwanted catch
page 46 of 120
Met? Not Relevant Not Relevant Not Relevant
Rationale N/A
Rationale N/A
Rationale N/A
Shark finning
Rationale N/A
Rationale N/A
page 47 of 120
Draft Scoring ≥80
Range
Information on the nature and extent of primary species is adequate to determine the risk posed
PI 2.1.3
by the UoA and the effectiveness of the strategy to manage primary species
Some quantitative
Qualitative information is
information is available and is
adequate to estimate the
adequate to assess the
impact of the UoA on the
impact of the UoA on the
main primary species with
main primary species with
respect to status.
respect to status. Quantitative information is
available and is adequate to
OR
OR assess with a high degree of
Guidepost
certainty the impact of the
If RBF is used to score PI
If RBF is used to score PI UoA on main primary species
2.1.1 for the UoA:
2.1.1 for the UoA: with respect to status.
Qualitative information is
Some quantitative
adequate to estimate
information is adequate to
productivity and susceptibility
assess productivity and
attributes for main primary
susceptibility attributes for
species.
main primary species.
Rationale N/A
Some quantitative
information is adequate to
Guidepost estimate the impact of the
UoA on minor primary species
with respect to status.
Rationale N/A
page 48 of 120
certainty whether the strategy
is achieving its objective.
Rationale N/A
The UoA aims to maintain secondary species above a biologically based limit and does not
PI 2.2.1
hinder recovery of secondary species if they are below a biological based limit
Direct effects
OR
Met? Yes No No
page 49 of 120
KAW stock in South China Sea waters indicated highly likely in the safe stock
(2013 and 2018 data), current catch is higher than the MSY level in 2018.
Rationale
The exploitation rate (E=F/Z) of Decapterus macrosoma, and Decapterus
maruadsi in Malaysia (landed in Tok Bali) in the range of 0.59 - 0.75 (2003 and
2005 data). Data limited, and no specific management is in place.
OR
Guidepost
If below biologically based
limits’, there is evidence that
the UoA does not hinder the
recovery and rebuilding of
secondary species
Met? No
The LOT purse seine fishing in the ECPM waters firmly indicated multispecies
catches, dominated by scad, LOT, KAW, FRI, low value and unwanted catch
Information (small pelagic fishes), even the C2 - LOT purse seiners tend to be dominated by
Gap Indicator the neritic tuna species. Unfortunately, not all species are clearly defined at the
UoA. Due to lack of adequate data, PSA applied in this circumstance (fail, <60)
(page 95 -107). SG 60-79 is not met.
Yes, refer to page 95-107 to Table 14 for secondary species assessment via
Data-Deficient?
PSA.
There is a strategy in place for managing secondary species that is designed to maintain or to
PI 2.2.2 not hinder rebuilding of secondary species and the UoA regularly reviews and implements
measures, as appropriate, to minimise the mortality of unwanted catch.
page 50 of 120
Management strategy in place
Met? No No No
Met? No No No
Met? No No
Shark finning
Rationale N/A
page 51 of 120
There is a regular review of There is a biennial review of
There is a review of the the potential effectiveness the potential effectiveness
potential effectiveness and and practicality of alternative and practicality of alternative
practicality of alternative measures to minimise measures to minimise
Guidepost measures to minimise UoA-related mortality of UoA-related mortality of
UoA-related mortality of unwanted catch of main unwanted catch of all
unwanted catch of main secondary species and they secondary species, and they
secondary species. are implemented as are implemented, as
appropriate. appropriate.
Rationale N/A
Information The secondary species management and strategy is not in place. SG 60-79 is
Gap Indicator not met.
Information on the nature and amount of secondary species taken is adequate to determine the
PI 2.1.3
risk posed by the UoA and the effectiveness of the strategy to manage secondary species
Some quantitative
Qualitative information is
information is available and is
adequate to estimate the
adequate to assess the
impact of the UoA on the
impact of the UoA on the
main secondary species with
main secondary species with
respect to status. Quantitative information is
respect to status.
available and is adequate to
OR assess with a high degree of
OR
Guidepost certainty the impact of the
If RBF is used to score PI UoA on main secondary
If RBF is used to score PI
2.2.1 for the UoA: species with respect to
2.2.1 for the UoA:
Qualitative information is status.
Some quantitative
adequate to estimate
information is adequate to
productivity and susceptibility
assess productivity and
attributes for main secondary
susceptibility attributes for
species.
main secondary species.
Rationale Some information and data (both qualitative & quantitative) of the main
page 52 of 120
secondary species is available to assess productivity and susceptibility
attributes, by giving the status of the fisheries, e.g. biological parameters,
distribution, etc. However some species are not defined well. There is
uncertainty with the data to be considered for the partial strategy actions
within UoA.
Some quantitative
information is adequate to
estimate the impact of the
Guidepost
UoA on minor secondary
species with respect to
status.
Met? No
Information is adequate to
Information is adequate to support a strategy to manage
Information is adequate to
support a partial strategy to all secondary species and
Guidepost support measures to manage
manage main secondary evaluate with a high degree of
main secondary species.
species. certainty whether the strategy
is achieving its objective.
Met? Yes No No
The existing data and information about the secondary species impacted are
less to support the partial strategy to maintain the main secondary species
Rationale
within the LOT fishery, including consideration for strategy review and
evaluation.
Some and/or partial data and information about the secondary species is
Information available but likely not adequate to estimate the impact of the LOT purse seine
Gap Indicator fishery for the bycatch, both retained or unwanted fishes, as well as its
changes in every season and periode. SG 100 is not met.
● The UoA meets national and international requirements for the protection of ETP
PI 2.3.1
species
page 53 of 120
● The UoA does not hinder recovery of ETP species
Effects of the UoA on population/stock within national or international limits, where applicable
Met? Yes No No
Direct effects
Met? Yes No No
The existing information is likely that the LOT fishery impacts in the UoA do
Rationale not hinder ETP species recovery. Adequate information to cover these
indicators is needed.
Indirect effects
Met? No No
page 54 of 120
Draft Scoring <60
Range
Anecdotal information indicates that interactions of the fishing gear with ETP
biota rarely happens, but this findings has not been supported with sufficient
Information
data to ascertain the fishery does not hinder recovery of ETP species.
Gap Indicator
Therefore, PSA used to address this performance indicator (fail, <60) (page
110 - 114). SG 60-79 is not met.
Data-Deficient? Yes, refer to Table 15 for ETP assessment via PSA (page 110-114)
Also, the UoA regularly reviews and implements measures, as appropriate, to minimise the
mortality of ETP species
Met? No No No
Sea Turtle species found in the fishing area are protected under the Fisheries
Act 1985. Sea Turtles are also protected under various Conventions, national
and international laws, treaties, agreements, and memoranda of
understanding. However Tursiops aduncus, the specific conservation actions
Rationale
for this species are lacking from most of the range of the species although
they are generally legally protected in most range states. Unfortunately, there
was no management strategy to ensure the reduction of these species from
being caught.
page 55 of 120
hinder the recovery of ETP
species.
Met? No No No
Met? No No No
Met? No No
Met? No No No
page 56 of 120
Draft Scoring <60
Range
ETP species found in the fishing ground of the UoA are protected by the
Fisheries Act 1985, except for Tursiops aduncus. There is a Regional and
Information
National Plan of Action for ETP marine species conservation in the region.
Gap Indicator
Unfortunately, the adequate information or report as evidence that ETP species
management in place is unavailable. SG 60-79 is not met.
Relevant information is collected to support the management of UoA impacts on ETP species,
including:
PI 2.3.3 ● Information for the development of the management strategy;
● Information to assess the effectiveness of the management strategy; and
● Information to determine the outcome status of ETP species
Some quantitative
information is adequate to
assess the UoA related
Qualitative information is
mortality and impact and to
adequate to estimate the UoA
determine whether the UoA
related mortality on ETP
may be a threat to protection Quantitative information is
species.
and recovery of the ETP available to assess with a
species. high degree of certainty the
OR
magnitude of UoA-related
Guidepost
OR impacts, mortalities and
If RBF is used to score PI
injuries and the
2.3.1 for the UoA:
If RBF is used to score PI consequences for the status
Qualitative information is
2.3.1 for the UoA: of ETP species.
adequate to estimate
Some quantitative
productivity and susceptibility
information is adequate to
attributes for ETP species.
assess productivity and
susceptibility attributes for
ETP species.
The reference used to cover the productivity and susceptibility attribute for
ETP species collected from previous research and biological information both
Rationale qualitative and quantitative data. However not all attributes are well known, i.e.
availability and accountability of ETP species to the LOT fishing activities
within UoA.
page 57 of 120
on ETP species. minimise mortality and injury
of ETP species, and evaluate
with a high degree of certainty
whether a strategy is
achieving its objectives.
Met? No No No
Lack of data to describe the impact of the LOT fishing for the ETP species.
Several information available but not comprehensively define their habit,
Rationale
migration pathways, and the probability caught by the purse seine, including
the evidence of ETP handling/treatment on board.
There is no clear information to assess the ETP caught and their mortality
Information
whether the fishery is potentially a threat to recovery of the ETP species in the
Gap Indicator
region. SG 60-79 is not met.
The UoA does not cause serious or irreversible harm to habitat structure and function,
PI 2.4.1 considered on the basis of the area covered by the governance body(s) responsible for fisheries
management in the area(s) where the UoA operates
The purse seine fishing in Tok Bali and surrounding water operates in an
inner-shelf zone without interaction with the sea bed. No irreversible harm
Rationale which was caused by the fishery, nor required specific management strategy
and information or monitoring. The fishery is default ≥80 passes (CSA score:
93, low risk/ pass)(page 115).
page 58 of 120
There is evidence that the
The UoA is unlikely to reduce The UoA is highly unlikely to
UoA is highly unlikely to
structure and function of the reduce structure and function
reduce structure and function
Guidepost VME habitats to a point where of the VME habitats to a point
of the VME habitats to a point
there would be serious or where there would be serious
where there would be serious
irreversible harm. or irreversible harm.
or irreversible harm.
Met? Yes
Data-Deficient? Yes (CSA score: 93, low risk/ pass) (page 115)
There is a strategy in place that is designed to ensure the UoA does not pose a risk of serious or
PI 2.4.2
irreversible harm to the habitats
There is no interaction between the fishing gear (purse seine) with the sea bed.
Rationale The CSA (page 115) used in this circumstance showed that its operation has a
low-risk impact on the habitat.
page 59 of 120
Management strategy evaluation
The measures are considered There is some objective basis Testing supports high
likely to work, based on for confidence that the confidence that the partial
plausible arguments (e.g. measures/partial strategy will strategy/strategy will work,
Guidepost
general experience, theory or work, based on information based on information directly
comparison with similar directly about the UoA and/or about the UoA and/or habitats
UoAs/habitats). habitats involved. involved.
There is no interaction between the fishing gear (purse seine) with the sea bed.
Rationale The CSA (page 115) used in this circumstance showed that its operation has a
low-risk impact on the habitat.
There is no interaction between the fishing gear (purse seine) with the sea bed.
Rationale The CSA (page 115) used in this circumstance showed that its operation has a
low-risk impact on the habitat.
Met? NA NA NA
page 60 of 120
PI 2.4.3 - Habitats Information
Information is adequate to determine the risk posed to the habitat by the UoA and the
PI 2.4.3
effectiveness of the strategy to manage impacts on the habitat
Information quality
There is no interaction between the fishing gear (purse seine) with the sea bed.
Rationale The CSA (page 115) used in this circumstance showed that its operation has a
low-risk impact on the habitat.
Information is adequate to
allow for identification of the
Information is adequate to
main impacts of the UoA on
broadly understand the nature
the main habitats, and there is
of the main impacts of gear
reliable information on the
use on the main habitats,
spatial extent of interaction
including spatial overlap of
and on the timing and
habitat with fishing gear.
location of use of the fishing
gear.
OR The physical impacts of the
Guidepost gear on all habitats have been
OR
If CSA is used to score PI quantified fully.
2.4.1 for the UoA:
If CSA is used to score PI
Qualitative information is
2.4.1 for the UoA:
adequate to estimate the
Some quantitative
consequence and spatial
information is available and is
attributes of the main
adequate to estimate the
habitats.
consequence and spatial
attributes of the main
habitats.
page 61 of 120
Met? Yes Yes Yes
There is no interaction between the fishing gear (purse seine) with the sea bed.
Rationale The CSA (page 115) used in this circumstance showed that its operation has a
low-risk impact on the habitat.
Monitoring
Adequate information
Changes in all habitat
continues to be collected to
Guidepost distributions over time are
detect any increase in risk to
measured.
the main habitats.
There is no interaction between the fishing gear (purse seine) with the sea bed.
Rationale The CSA (page 115) used in this circumstance showed that its operation has a
low-risk impact on the habitat.
The UoA does not cause serious or irreversible harm to the key elements underlying ecosystem
PI 2.5.1
structure and function
Ecosystem status
Met? No No No
page 62 of 120
The lack of information on the LOT to represent their position within the food
web in the pelagic ecosystem raises doubts that key ecosystem elements are
Information
unaffected by existing fishing activities. SICA used in this circumstance (fail,
Gap Indicator
<60), due to potential high-risk for functional group composition (page 116).
SG 60-79 is not met.
Yes
Data-Deficient?
There are measures in place to ensure the UoA does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible
PI 2.5.2
harm to ecosystem structure and function
Met? No No No
Met? No No No
page 63 of 120
scoring issue (a).
Met? No No
PI 2.5.3 There is adequate knowledge of the impacts of the UoA on the ecosystem
Information quality
Met? No No
Lack of information and evidence on the relation of LOT with other associate
fishes in the ecosystem. This also includes how to make sure the anchovy as
Rationale
the main diet for the neritic-pelagic food web can be maintained, in
accordance with the highly likely their fishing ground are overlapped.
Met? No No No
Lack of information to convince the impact of the UoA on the key elements of
Rationale
the ecosystem that clearly investigated.
page 64 of 120
and ETP species and and Habitats are identified
Habitats) in the ecosystem and the main functions of
are known. these components in the
ecosystem are understood.
Met? No No
Information relevance
Met? No No
Monitoring
Information is adequate to
Adequate data continue to be
support the development of
Guidepost collected to detect any
strategies to manage
increase in risk level.
ecosystem impacts.
Met? No No
page 65 of 120
PRINCIPLE 3
page 66 of 120
Background
The distribution of LOT is concentrated in the tropical neritic zone, the shallow part of the
sea along the coast, above the continental shelf which is abundantly found in Indo - West Pacific
Waters including the economic zones and sub-regional marine waters of Southeast Asia
(fishofaustralia.net.au, 2023; and Siriraksophon, 2017). The status of this fishery is important to
discover as the utilisation rate of this species is inclining over the years, exploited by small-scale
commercial and artisanal fishing and generating revenues for the Southeast Asia countries and
providing important protein sources for domestic consumption (Siriraksophon, 2017; Griffiths et
al., 2020). The neritic tuna contributed of 4.5% Malaysia’s total marine fish landings in 2018. They
are mostly targeted by purse-seiner in zone C-C2 and constitute a significant portion of
multispecies fisheries for small neritic tuna, i.e. mackerel tuna/ KAW (Euthynus affinis); frigate
tuna/ FRI (Auzis thazarad), etc (Griffith et al., 2010). This fishing activity led to the resilience of
fishing pressure for this species to the level of medium (minimum population doubling time 1.4 -
4.4 years) and the vulnerability to extinction is moderate to high vulnerability (Fishebase, 2023).
Unfortunately, the existing catch-data for this species is not convincing to establish the
adequate stock status, moreover, the understanding of this fishery is underestimated, full of
uncertainty, even predicted to overfishing and overfished (Griffiths et al., 2020; asiapachfish.org,
2023) (as stated in the first chapter/stock status). Since LOT is regarded as a single unit stock for
Indo Pacific Ocean region (Willey et al., 2016; Griffiths et al., 2020; Ghani & Asmat, 2022) and
highly-likely transboundary occurs within the fishery (Siriraksophon, 2017), its management
needs to be considered at the regional level or UoA. Figure 17 strengthened the indication, by
showing the trajectory of the purse-seiner vessels that landed in Tok Bali (2013) which
concentrated in four fishing grounds spotted in grey circle (A), and the distribution of the vessels in
the ECPM which operated around C-C2 zone in 2018 (B). It assumed some of the vessels were
moving close and/or over the borderline of EEZ of Malaysia into Thailand waters.
The targeted fishing ground (zone C-C2), ECPM waters is part of South China Sea, Western
and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), but at the moment, WCPFC has not covered
LOT as focus of work in this region. It is implied that the stock status and management of LOT in
the WCPFC region is absent (Kasim et al., 2020; WCPFC, 2023). The reason is WCPFC does not
consider LOT as a highly migratory species (referred to Annex I lists, UNCLOS 1982). In contrast
with WCPFC, the action for LOT management in the Indian Ocean is seen by pointing out the status
stock of LOT in the Indian Ocean in 2020, moreover, advice for the management is available (IOTC,
2022).
page 67 of 120
A
page 68 of 120
C
Figure 17. A) The purse-seiner of Tok Bali trajectory in 2013; B) The distribution of purse-seiner
fishing vessels in zone C & C2, ECPM in 2018 (Harlyan et al., 2021), and; C) Malaysia fishing zone
(Piah et al., 2018).
Table 9. The classification of the fishing zone and utilisation in Malaysia waters.
Zone A
Category Zone B Zone C Zone C2 Zone C3
(No-take-zone)
Commercial
Marine Park Commercial Commercial Commercial
fisheries (Tuna
(Only artisanal fisheries fisheries fisheries
Purpose longliners and
fisheries (Trawlers and (Trawlers and (Trawlers and
tuna purse
allowed) Purse seiners) Purse seiners) Purse seiners)
seiners)
Must be on
Does not have to Does not have to Does not have to Does not have to
Ownership board (one
be in the vessel be in the vessel be in the vessel be in the vessel
person owns one
Vessel Size <40 GRT <40 GRT 40 - <70 GRT ≥70 GRT ≥70 GRT
Fishing Area
30 nm - EEZ
(Distance from 0-5 nm 5-12 nm 12 - 30 nm High Seas
Boundary
shore)
page 69 of 120
The SEAFDEC as an autonomous inter-governmental body (based on the Agreement on
Establishing the Southeast Asian Development Center, 1987) established the Scientific Working
Group on Neritic Tuna Stock Assessment in the Southeast Asian Waters in 2014 and subsequently
initiated the Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) in 2015 as sustainable management framework of
neritic tuna in the region covering Sulu Sulawesi Sea, Andaman Sea, South China Sea and Gulf of
Thailand (Siriraksophon, 2017; asiapachfish.org, 2023; Griffiths et al., 2020). The objectives of
RPOA-Neritic Tunas were focused on the improvement of data and information; sustainable
fisheries management; interaction with marine ecosystems; compliance; social issues; and
regional cooperation (SEAFDEC, 2015). Explicitly, the section of co-management works is still in
the stage of appeal and/or promotion to enhance regional awareness through the ASEAN
Members States (AMSs) - SEAFDEC council mechanism. At the moment, the development of the
RPOA-Neritic Tunas in 2022 is still focusing on the stock status assessment and complementing
the proxies.
In order for the legal framework in the UoA, Malaysia has a clear legal framework for
fishery management authority under DOF as stated within Fisheries Act 1985 (317). Malaysia
initiated to comply and adopt international fisheries management instruments i.e. 1982 United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); FAO Code of Conduct Responsible Fisheries
(CCRF), Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and
Unregulated Fishing (IUU Fishing), which have been embedded in the National Agro-Food Policy
(2011-2020) and the Strategic Plan of the DOF Malaysia (2011-2020). However, due to the LOT
being considered one single stock within the South China Sea, the existence of a national legal
framework and system must have effective cooperation or binding procedure with other parties in
the region, where necessary, to deliver management outcomes consistent with the MSC principle 1
and 2. The absence of LOT as focussed-commodity under WCPFC arising challenges on how to
address and manage the LOT in the UoA. The national legal system in Malaysia and existing
framework initiated by SEAFDEC in ASEAN likely have not been applied effectively to address the
LOT management in the region.
Actually, the legal framework and legal system play key roles as appropriate mechanisms
to the size and scale of the UoA that comply with local, national and international laws toward
responsible and sustainable use of resources. High performing fisheries need to have transparent
dispute resolution mechanisms in the UoA (covering all relevant-jurisdictions) and proven this
mechanism is suitable and effective. None of the information and measures has been
implemented clearly demonstrated that the fishery has an effective multi-lateral management
framework. It’s also shown that the clear Regional Fishery Body (RFB) for neritic tuna
management within the Southeast Asia Waters region doesn't exist. This condition is also
affecting the absence of a legal dispute framework as a mechanism for the resolution in the
region.
Effective fishery management provides a platform for all the relevant-stakeholders within
the fishery to convey their concerns and sights to the management, and the decision clearly
informs the public, including the reason why it’s agreed and tackled. The stakeholders may include
people and organisations not directly related to fishery activities, but that interact with or have
interest in a fishery.
page 70 of 120
Malaysia comprises 13 states and 3 federal territories. Each state has its own written
constitution, legislative assembly, and executive council, which is responsible to the legislative
assembly and headed by a chief minister. In Malaysia, the authority for fisheries management
within the country is under the responsibility of The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
(MAFS), through the Director General - Department of Fisheries, Malaysia. They used to collaborate
with several entities under the ministry to develop the fisheries industry in Malaysia, namely
Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia (LKIM). To support the implementation of fishery management
within the country, established the representative DOF in every state. The Table 10 below is the list
of related entities to support the LOT fishery management with their clear roles & responsibilities
for fisheries affairs and also other key external stakeholders that have relevant mandate and
functions.
Table 10. The list of relevant stakeholders for LOT fishery management in Malaysia.
No Entity Roles & Responsibilities
1 Ministry of Agriculture and Food To provide any regulations and policies for fisheries
Security (MAFS) governance and management in Malaysia
5 Malaysian Quarantine and Holds export data, which is helpful for the project to
Inspection Services (MAQIS) understand the supply chain details
page 71 of 120
the recommendation for management action
9 Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd A business company, in Tok Bali, launched a fishery
(GISB) Holdings sector with a key purpose to suffice the local
seafood
supplies
The clarity of the roles and responsibilities is reflected and specifically defined through the
existence of laws, e.g. LKIM Act 1971; Fisherman’s Act 1974; ZEE Act 1984; Malaysian Maritime
Enforcement Agency Act 2004; Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011; etc. It is
demonstrated that the roles and responsibilities are explicitly defined, well understood, and in
place for all areas of responsibility and interaction. Toward good governance within the fishery
management, Malaysia has been trying to maximise the function and roles for every division, and
committed to improve their capacity in response to IUU fishing by collaborating with regional
entities, i.e. SEAFDEC, Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) IUU Fishing (South China Sea, Sulu-Sulawesi
Seas and Arafura-Timor Seas) and the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) by participating in seminars,
workshops and training to address IUU fishing. Figure 18 below represents the distribution of roles
and functions of Malaysian entities in order to prevent IUU fishing within Malaysia waters.
Notification Received
IUU
Vessels
Decision
List from
RPOA,
DOF
State RFMO
DOF websites
Dissemination of Notification /
Information to State DOF / Departments /
Agencies / Port Authorities / Port Operators
DOF
page 72 of 120
Monitoring and Intelligence
Law Enforcement
Malaysian Maritime
Enforcement Agency
(MMEA) / DOF /
Royal Malaysia Police
page 73 of 120
(RMP) / Marine
Department (MD) /
Port Authority /
Malaysian Fisheries
Development
Authority (LKIM) /
Royal Malaysian
Custom Department
(RMCD) / Malaysian
Quarantine and
Inspection Services
Department (MAQIS)
Report to Flag
Report to RPOA State
(DOF) (DOF)/ Marine
Department
Figure 18. Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) for Malaysia’s entities in order to prevent IUU
Fishing within Malaysia waters.
The consultation process within the fishery management DOF provides consultation
sessions with the fisheries actors, including the fishers and vessel owners through Majlis
Perundingan Industri (MPI)/ Industrial consultative council meeting annually. In addition, the
presence of fishers's associations in Malaysia under LKIM coordination and assistance (especially
NEKMAT/Persatuan Nelayan Kebangsaan, and PNN Kelantan-Terengganu or fishers group above)
can ensure the social and economic financial schemes can be accessed by the fishers to improve
their capacity, and to mediate in disputes arising as well. The effectiveness of the consultation
process and the presence of the platform for the key stakeholders within fishery to meet and
consult plays an important role to support inclusivity of the fishery management.
The Malaysian government through LKIM and DOF at the state level frequently give
opportunities to the all/key stakeholders to share their concern and input for the fishery. One of the
important things, how local or customary knowledge can be recognized and considered as part of
fishery management actors. The consultation process provides an opportunity for the fishers or
the community to join the forum. Even some facts show the level of participation of the fishers or
the community (especially the vessel’s owner) within the forum is barely attended due to any
reasons. Even the management system regularly seeks and accepts relevant information from the
stakeholders, including local knowledge of fisheries management. But at the moment, no clear
evidence or measure is documented to prove the consideration of the information obtained and
explained to the public from the consultation process to be applied for the management, SG 100 is
not met.
page 74 of 120
Long Term Objectives
The sustainable fishery resources management long term vision in Malaysia is declared
through provisions of the Fisheries Act 1985 (317) as a legislative framework - amended in 2019
by governing fisheries plans development; licensing provisions; offences; inland waters;
aquaculture; marine parks and reserves; enforcement; and power of the Minister to make
regulations. Fisheries Act 1985/ 317, Part XI, 61 stated “The Minister may make regulations
specifically or generally for the proper conservation, development, and management of maritime and
estuaries fishing and fisheries in Malaysian fisheries waters …” this exhibit that the Minister of
Pertanian and Keterjaminan Makanan (Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security/MAFS) is
authorised to produce any regulation to support the sustainable fishery management within
Malaysia waters. These long term objectives reflected the vision of DOF Malaysia to be the leader
in the transformation of a sustainable and competitive fishery, by proposing strategies to achieve
the main goal for fisheries management within the country, as follows:
This management objective has been dealt with with the National Plan of Action (NPOA)
Fishing Capacity in Malaysia (Plan II). The NPOA Fishing Capacity is focused on the management
of fishing capacity in marine capture fisheries through the implementation of a range of policies
and technical measures aimed at ensuring the desired balance between fishing inputs and outputs
in terms of production (Shaupi et al., 2011). It is in accordance with the mandate of Fisheries Act
1985 (317) to develop the fisheries plan for specific management action. The fisheries plan
should be developed based on the scientific information available and designed to ensure
optimum utilisation of fishery resources, consistent with sound conservation and management
principles and with the avoidance of overfishing, and in accordance with the overall national
policies, development plans and programmes (Fisheries Act 1985/ 317, Part III, 6). By
understanding this, it’s demonstrated the management policy has clear long-term objectives that
guide decision-making, consistent with the MSC Fisheries Standard and the precautionary
approach are explicit within management policy.
Fishery-specific objectives provide directions and are designed around the overarching
national, international or regional goals and policies set by the government for the fishery within
UoA. The fishery-specific management for LOT in the unit stock of South China Sea needs to be
developed for both short term and long term operational targets and must also be explicitly stated.
This management is aiming the LOT stocks probably exploited in a high degree of certainty that
the stock is above the PRI (Point of Recruitment Impairment) by implementing responsive harvest
strategy. Unfortunately, as mentioned in the early section, none of the management action for LOT
is established in the region (UoA).
page 75 of 120
Meanwhile, several action plans to improve the management of LOT in Malaysian waters
were explicitly stated through the strategic action plan/ Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) for
tuna in the early 2010 by DOF Malaysia, this included the neritic tuna management in ECPM.
However this strategic plan is no longer available for access after it ends in 2020. Based on the
written statement by the DOF, at the moment they are also developing the specific neritic tuna
management for ECPM waters. But the detailed information about those previous achievements
and current progress is unavailable, involving: the information about the scope, objectives,
actions, and progress, also how it will be reviewed and monitored. As reference, the SEAFDEC
Country Report - Malaysia (2020), stated the main management goal for the Neritic Tuna FMP
need to be formulated in the region co-management level, due to several constraints identified, as
follows:
Otherwise, In the region, the Regional Plan Of Action (RPOA) neritic-tuna already
proposed by SEAFDEC in 2015 seems not appropriate to cover LOT stock management within
UoA, due to never having been adopted or implemented and yet focusing on the stock status
assessment and complementing the proxies. Even though the objectives of the management are
defined in the document by focusing on:
● Determining available data and information, improving data collection and developing key
indicators;
● Improving sustainable fisheries management;
● Improving sustainable interaction between fisheries and marine ecosystem;
● Improving compliance to rules and regulations and access to markets;
● Addressing social issues;
In addition, the “Strategic Plan of Tuna Industry Development - South China Sea, Sulu Sea
and Sulawesi Sea 2021 - 2030” by DOF tend to focus on oceanic tuna development and
management, which highly-likely doesn't really address the LOT management that comply with
principle 1 and principle 2 of MSC standard in the Malaysian waters. The specific management
measures for LOT fishery management through adequate harvest strategy and ecosystem
management is clearly not endorsed under the tuna industry development plan.
High criteria for the fishery-specific objective both to be broadly consistent with MSC
principles 1 and 2, or even achieving well-defined and measurable short and long-term
objectives is not met. The absence of specific management action for the LOT fishery in the
region led to the failure of all indicators under fishery-specific objectives and decision-making.
page 76 of 120
Compliance and Enforcement
Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) is adequate to ensure the management and
conservation measures in a fishery are enforced and complied with, and with IUU fishing is avoided
or minimised. The design of the MCS system will depend upon the scale and nature of the fishery,
also should apply at all relevant jurisdictions of the fishery. In terms of MCS for LOT fishery in
targeted UoA, Malaysia’s Government has developed a plan of actions to combat IUU Fishing
through “Malaysia’s National Plan of Action to Prevent, to Deter an to Eliminate IUU” (Malaysia's
NPOA- IUU).
Figure 18 above has clear roles and functions as Malaysia entities react and prevent IUU
Fishing. This information shows the MCS mechanism exists with clear standard operation
procedures to handle both foreign and local fishing vessels. Nevertheless, by understanding the
vessels operations, the labour composition of the purse seiners in Tok Bali are dominated by
fishers employed from Thailand (90%) and locals for the rest, and VMS implementation seems
unconvincing due to some technical issues, and the problem still was not resolved accordingly
(Ghani & Asmat, 2022). VMS could only be effective for monitoring vessels that are equipped with
the system. Therefore, there is a need for a good surveillance protocol so that the fishing capacity
of vessels not equipped with VMS could also be monitored (Shaupi et al., 2011).
Information in Figure 17 indicates transboundary is exist and there were 3.642 licensed
purse seiners in 2016, with 41.3% operating in the ECPM; West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia
(WCPM) (30.3%); Sabah (24.6%); Sarawak (3.4%); others (0.4%). Dominated with >70 GRT (66.9%)
and 40 - 69.9 GRT (25.2%) (Harlyan et al., 2021). These conditions arising challenges how the
sanctions are consistently applied and how the evidence could provide that the compliance and
enforcement for the fishery-specific management carried out comprehensively in high degree of
confidence. However, the existence has not been effectively demonstrated, due to lack of
evidence.
Wanchana et al., (2016), transboundary fishery between Malaysia - Thailand waters (both
Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea) identified three major issues, e.g. dual flagging or registration
or deregistration; landing of catches in the neighbouring countries port; and encroachment foreign
(and national) fishing vessel in the coastal waters. Available MoU Malaysia - Thailand government
should be developed as a priority long-term activity. This would become the official mechanism for
strengthening future cooperation between both countries. At the regional level within South East
Asian region, established regional platform to combat IUU fishing via Regional Plan of Action
(RPOA) IUU in 2007 through joint ministerial agreement, involved: Australia; Brunei Darussalam;
Indonesia; Malaysia; Papua New Guinea; The Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; Timor-Leste; and
Vietnam. The Coordination Committee is a high level decision-making body providing strategic
advice and direction to RPOA member countries. The Committee’s function are:
● Foster an environment of cooperation and collaboration among RPOA member countries;
● Advise on national, sub-regional and regional priorities to guide implementation of the
RPOA;
● Plan RPOA activities, report on implementation of measures and maintain a forward work
agenda;
● Provide strategic oversight and advice on RPOA activities to further develop and implement
responsible fishing practices in the region;
● Monitor, review and advice on the effective implementation of the RPOA;
page 77 of 120
● Report to Fisheries Ministers on the progress of implementation and any additional
measures required for implementation; and
● Communicate with the FAO and other relevant international and regional bodies, as
appropriate;
● Collaborate with international/regional organisations, programs or projects concerned with
fisheries management and sustainable use of fisheries resources in implementing the
RPOA.
The Coordination Committee conducts an annual meeting and it is a high level decision
making body to provide strategic advice and direction to participating countries on coordination
and implementation covering matters such as marine environment conservation, sustainable
management of fisheries resources, managing fishing capacity, building competency in fisheries
management and combating IUU fishing. Minutes of the high panel meeting shared and uploaded
via RPOA website: rpoaiuu.org. In general, the MCS instrument and cooperation both within
Malaysia and in the regional waters are quite complete, however, the quality of the MCS
implementation is important to show how far the system is comprehensive and consistent,
supported by convincing evidence and reports, that the tuna longtail fishery complies with all
regulations. Without this circumstance, the fishery is going to fail.
The NPOA Fishing Capacity Plan 2 emphasised on enhancing monitoring and evaluation on
the action undertaken to manage fishing capacity. Twelve issues and challenges were identified
and three strategies were developed. For each issue, relevant programs have been identified for
implementation, with key performance indicators for future evaluation. A detailed work plan with
timeline and implementing agencies has also been developed. This plan will be monitored and
evaluated by the National Steering Committee which will be established to oversee the
implementation of all national plans of action. This plan will be reviewed after five years. This Plan
2 will focus on twelve issues and challenges which have been identified (DOF, 2015). Based on
these issues, three strategies were developed namely:
Unfortunately the effectiveness and validity of these strategies have not been clearly
measured (Harlyan et al., 2017), and there is no mechanism for peer review in place, moreover,
evaluation for the fishery-specific management system to cover the update of stock of LOT in the
region, and set the harvest strategy through transparent and comprehensive decision-making is
absent. This goes along with the review and evaluation mechanism for management
performance which currently doesn’t exist.
The management system exists within an appropriate and effective legal and/or customary
framework which ensures that it:
● Is capable of delivering sustainability in the UoA(s);
PI 3.1.1
● Observes the legal rights created explicitly or established by custom of people
dependent on fishing for food or livelihood; and
● Incorporates an appropriate dispute resolution framework
Met? Yes No No
Rationale However, LOT is not under concern of WCPFC, and there is no effective
regional fishery body as a cooperation platform for LOT management in the
South China Sea.
page 79 of 120
None of the information and measures has been implemented clearly
demonstrated that the fishery has an effective multi-lateral management
framework.
Resolution of disputes
Met? Yes No No
Malaysia has clearly legal mechanisms as subjected by law for the dispute
resolution within the fishery, unfortunately it does not support with proper
evidence to point out that this scheme is effective. Moreover the sufficient
Rationale
legal mechanism for the resolution of disputes within the fishery in the region
doesn't exist in accordance with the absence of a regional fishery body as a
platform for fishery management.
Malaysia has a clear legal framework for fishery management authority under
DOF as stated within Fisheries Act 1985 (317). The absence of LOT as
Information
focussed-commodity under WCPFC arising challenges on how to address and
Gap Indicator
manage the LOT in the UoA. The national legal system in Malaysia and existing
framework initiated by SEAFDEC in ASEAN likely have not been applied
page 80 of 120
effectively to address the LOT management in the region. This condition is also
affecting the absence of a legal dispute framework as a mechanism for the
resolution in the region. None of the information and measures has been
implemented demonstrating that the fishery has an effective multi-lateral
management framework. SG 100 is not met.
The management system has effective consultation processes that are open to interested and
PI 3.1.2 affected parties. The roles and responsibilities of organisations and individuals who are involved
in the management process are clear and understood by all relevant parties
The roles and responsibilities for every position or entity within Malaysia
government for fisheries affairs demonstrated through any act or ordinance
used as basis or legality for them to execute their function, roles and
responsibilities, e.g. LKIM Act 1971; Fisherman’s Act 1974; ZEE Act 1984;
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Act 2004; Malaysian Quarantine and
Inspection Services Act 2011; etc
Rationale
It is demonstrated that the roles and responsibilities are explicitly defined and
well understood for all areas of responsibility and interaction. Toward good
governance within the fishery management, Malaysia has been trying to
maximise the function and roles for every division, and committed to improve
their capacity in response to IUU fishing by collaborating with regional entities.
Consultation processes
page 81 of 120
it is used or not used.
Participation
Met? Yes No
The consultation is given opportunity for all of the stakeholders to join the
process, the evidence of how the consultation process is going effectively
Rationale addressing the issue within the fishery management is not clearly
demonstrated, barely an incomplete representative exists from the vessel's
owner, and fishers as consequence of lack of awareness.
The roles and responsibilities for fishery management in Malaysian waters are
explicitly defined, well understood, and in place for all areas of responsibility
and interaction. The consultation process provides an opportunity for the
Information fishers or the community to join the forum through Majlis Perundingan Industri
Gap Indicator (MPI) and fishers association. However, no clear evidence or measure is
documented to prove the consideration of the information obtained and
explained to the public from the consultation process to be applied for the
management. SG 100 is not met.
The management policy has clear long-term objectives to guide decision-making that are
PI 3.1.3
consistent with the MSC Fisheries Standard, and incorporates the precautionary approach
Objectives
page 82 of 120
Long-term objectives to guide Clear long-term objectives Clear long-term objectives
decision-making, consistent that guide decision-making, that guide decision-making,
with the MSC Fisheries consistent with the MSC consistent with the MSC
Guidepost Standard and the Fisheries Standard and the Fisheries Standard and the
precautionary approach, are precautionary approach, are precautionary approach, are
implicit within management explicit within management explicit within and required by
policy. policy. management policy.
The fishery-specific management system has clear, specific objectives designed to achieve the
PI 3.2.1
outcomes expressed by MSC Principles 1 and 2
Objectives
Met? No No No
The Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) for tuna (including neritic tuna)
Rationale developed by DOF in early 2010. However this FMP is no longer available for
access after it ends in 2020. Otherwise, currently the DOF is developing the
page 83 of 120
specific neritic tuna management for ECPM waters. The detailed information
about those previous achievements and current progress is unavailable,
involving: the information about the scope, objectives, actions, and progress,
also how it will be reviewed and monitored. In addition, the “Strategic Plan of
Tuna Industry Development - South China Sea, Sulu Sea and Sulawesi Sea
2021 - 2030” by DOF tend to focus on oceanic tuna management, which
highly-likely doesn't really address the LOT management that comply with
principle 1 and principle 2 of MSC standard in the Malaysian waters.
In the regional level, the Regional Plan Of Action (RPOA) neritic-tuna already
proposed by SEAFDEC in 2015 seems not appropriate to cover LOT stock
management within UoA.
Decision-making processes
Met? No No
page 84 of 120
timely and adaptive manner, in a transparent, timely, and timely, and adaptive manner,
and take some account of the adaptive manner, and take and take account of the wider
wider implications of account of the wider implications of decisions.
decisions. implications of decisions.
Met? No No No
Decision-making processes
use the precautionary
Guidepost
approach and are based on
best available information.
Met? No
Met? No No No
Approach to disputes
page 85 of 120
sustainability of the fishery.
Met? Yes No No
Malaysia's legal framework already covers for any laws relevant with dispute
within fishery affairs, involving how the legal instruments to take action
Rationale against any violation of the rules previously agreed upon by the
stakeholders/authority. However, how it demonstrated in the regional level
within UoA is indescribable.
Monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) mechanisms ensure the management measures in
PI 3.2.3
the UoA are enforced and complied with
MCS system
A comprehensive monitoring,
A monitoring, control and control and surveillance
Monitoring, control and
surveillance system has been system has been
surveillance mechanisms
implemented in the fishery implemented in the fishery
exist, and are implemented in
Guidepost and has demonstrated an and has demonstrated a
the fishery and there is a
ability to enforce relevant consistent ability to enforce
reasonable expectation that
management measures, relevant management
they are effective.
strategies and/or rules. measures, strategies and/or
rules.
Met? Yes No No
The MCS for LOT fishery in targeted UoA, Malaysia’s Government has been
developed plan of actions to combat IUU Fishing through “Malaysia’s National
Plan of Action to Prevent, to Deter an to Eliminate IUU” (Malaysia's NPOA- IUU
Rationale
2013) along with Economic Zone Act, 1984 (311); Malaysian Maritime
Enforcement Agency Act 2004; and Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952. This
information shows the MCS mechanism exists with clear standard operation
page 86 of 120
procedures to handle both foreign and local fishing vessels. This NPOA-IUU
focused on:
● State control over nationals;
● Restriction on foreign fishing vessels and vessels without nationality;
● Sanctions;
● Non-cooperating states;
● Economic incentives;
● MCS (including registration, transhipment, Vessel Monitoring
System/VMS, inspection, enforcement, etc);
● and cooperation between states as well.
Sanctions
Met? Yes No No
The sanctions/penalties clearly stated via Economic Zone Act, 1984 (311);
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Act 2004; and Merchant Shipping
Ordinance 1952.
Compliance (information)
Fishers are generally thought Some evidence exists to There is a high degree of
to comply with the demonstrate fishers comply confidence that fishers
management system for the with the management system comply with the management
fishery under assessment, under assessment, including, system under assessment,
Guidepost
including, when required, when required, providing including, providing
providing information of information of importance to information of importance to
importance to the effective the effective management of the effective management of
management of the fishery. the fishery. the fishery.
Met? Yes No No
Compliance (outcome)
page 87 of 120
There is no evidence of
Guidepost
systematic non-compliance.
Met? Yes
At the regional level within the South East Asian region, established a regional
platform to combat IUU fishing via Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) IUU in 2007
through joint ministerial agreement. The Coordination Committee is a high
level decision-making body providing strategic advice and direction to RPOA
member countries.
Rationale
The Coordination Committee conducts an annual meeting and it is a high level
decision making body to provide strategic advice and direction to participating
countries on coordination and implementation covering matters such as
marine environment conservation, sustainable management of fisheries
resources, managing fishing capacity, building competency in fisheries
management and combating IUU fishing.
In general, the MCS instrument and cooperation both within Malaysia and in
the regional waters are quite complete, however, the quality of the MCS
Information implementation is important to show whether the system is comprehensive
Gap Indicator and consistent, supported by convincing evidence and reports that the tuna
longtail fishery complies with all regulations. Without this circumstance, the
fishery is going to fail.
There is a system for monitoring and evaluating the performance of the fishery-specific
PI 3.2.4 management system against its objectives. There is effective and timely review of the
fishery-specific management system
Evaluation coverage
Met? No No No
page 88 of 120
achieve an efficient, equitable and transparent management of fishing capacity
in marine capture fisheries by 2018. This plan will be reviewed after five years.
Nevertheless, its planning seems general for all fisheries within Malaysian
waters, not specific for LOT fishery within UoA, certainly with the harvest
strategy and control rules that are not in place yet.
Met? No No No
The effectiveness and validity of the NPOA Fishing Capacity (Plan 2) have not
been clearly measured, and there is no mechanism for peer review in place,
moreover, evaluation for the fishery-specific management system to cover the
Rationale update of stock of LOT in the region, and set the harvest strategy through
transparent and comprehensive decision-making is absent. This goes along
with the review and evaluation mechanism for management performance
which currently doesn’t exist.
page 89 of 120
APPENDICES
Site Visits
The process of LOT fishery pre-assessment was conducted during March 31st 2023 - June
30th 2023, whereas the field visit was carried out between 14th-20th May, 2023 by visiting various
locations in Malaysia. The field visits are important steps to observe the information and to
confirm the result of the pre-assessment with related stakeholders i.e. representatives of the
government, fishers, vessel crews, researchers, etc. The result of the field visits reflected in the
report for any changes based on the fact found on the ground. The main objective of this
pre-assessment was to evaluate the performance of the LOT fishery (especially in ECPM waters)
that landed in Tok Bali against the MSC standard. The raising gaps would be a basis for the
stakeholders to design and implement the improvement toward sustainability of the resources. .
The field visit agenda commenced with a visit to the DOF office in Kelantan to do the
coordination and interviews regarding the management of the LOT fishery in ECPM waters.
Unfortunately, the team could not meet the concerned persons as they had urgent matters. Then,
the team visited the Siti Khadijah Traditional Market in Kelantan to observe the availability of the
LOT in the local market, and gained information from the seller about the LOT fishery in Kelantan
both past and present condition. Through this visit, the team was able to watch the significance of
LOT in the local community and given an initial vision about the potential secondary fisheries
impacted.
The visit continued to Tok Bali Fishing Port under authority of LKIM, to observe the purse
seine vessels specification (used to operate in zone C-C2) and their catch compositions. The
discussion with LKIM in Tok Bali was conducted to gather further information on their roles to
support and develop the LOT business in the region, and how they connected with the association
of fishers. The LOT supply chain, and fishery operation slightly discovered within the discussion.
The team then proceeded to Besut Port to observe and to compare the purse seine vessels and the
catch compositions against Tok Bali. This visit gave the team a more holistic understanding of the
purse seine fishery operated in different zones, different target species and catch composition,
whereas in Besut, tend to dominated by purse seine vessel that operates in zone C, with
small-pelagic fishes dominated the catches, even LOT abundantly landed during the peak season.
Not only purse seiners, in Besut also available various vessels and fishing gears that target
demersal fishes, squids, etc, in zone A and B. The team interviewed the fishers, and purse seine
vessel crew that landed there, and they gave many understanding about typical fishing activities
and operation in the region.
The planned visit to the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in
Terengganu was unsuccessful as SEAFDEC was on leave. This meeting actually has significant
impact to clarify any previous interpretations about the fishery, i.e. neritic tuna fishery in the region,
the dynamics of the LOT’s stock, movement and progress to mainstreaming neritic tuna
management in South China Sea, etc. To understand the potential bycatch and ETP encountered by
purse seine fishery in ECPM waters, the team visited the WWF site in Terengganu by discussing
with the local WWF staff about the potential of purse seine fishery encounter the turtle migration
page 90 of 120
in Malaysia waters. Before returning to Indonesia, the team visited Putra Jaya, to meet the
Department of Fisheries (DOF) headquarters to discuss with the representative of the capture
fishery resources division. However, the team could not meet with them due to an impromptu
meeting. In addition, the group met with a former WWF staff member who had experience in ETP
conservation, providing additional insights into the potential ETP bycatch in fishing activities in
Malaysia.
In addition, a written statement about LOT fishery in Malaysia (including ECPM waters)
from DOF Malaysia also available to complement the assessment. Based on these observations,
the team has obtained a clearer picture of the LOT purse seine fishery in Malaysia. This
pre-assessment has provided valuable initial insights as a starting point for further improvement
for LOT fishery in ECPM waters specifically, and in Malaysia generally, toward sustainable use of
resources in the future.
page 91 of 120
12 Discussion with LKIM and DoF headquarters Not Achieved Unexpected meeting
page 92 of 120
Recommendations for Stakeholders Participation
3 Kamarudin Bin Halim Purse seine vessel (zone C), Besut (Mechanic)
4 Hasham Bin Mamat Purse seine vessel (zone C), Besut (Crew/ Thailand)
page 93 of 120
Risk-Based Framework Outputs
Table 13 shows elements that are assessed via PSA as per in Table 14.
Table 13. Productivity Susceptibility Analysis (PSA) elements of fish and invertebrates
Productivity Susceptibility
page 94 of 120
Table 14 (a). PSA productivity and susceptibility attributes and scores for fish and invertebrates.
Performance Indicator 2.2.1
Productivity
Average age at
1.2-1.9 years 1
maturity
Average maximum
12 years 2
age
Average maximum
45 cm 1
size
Average size at
16.1 cm; 14-24.5 cm in range 1
maturity
Reproductive
Broadcast spawner 1
strategy
Susceptibility
page 95 of 120
Post capture
Highly likely the catch is majority dead when released. 3
mortality
Catch (weight)
Only where the scoring
N/A -
element is scored
cumulatively
page 96 of 120
Table 14 (b). PSA productivity and susceptibility attributes and scores for fish and invertebrates.
Performance Indicator 2.2.1
Productivity
Average age at
37.7 - 50 cm 1
maturity
Average maximum
6 years 1
age
Fecundity 210,000-680,000 1
Average maximum
110 cm 2
size
Average size at
40-65 cm 2
maturity
Reproductive
Broadcast spawner 1
strategy
Susceptibility
Fishery
Only where the scoring
N/A
element is scored
cumulatively
page 97 of 120
type mixed-fishes caught in huge numbers (20% and 4% in a row);
mesh size 1.5-2.5 inches.
Post capture
Highly likely the catch is majority dead when released. 3
mortality
Catch (weight)
Only where the scoring
N/A -
element is scored
cumulatively
page 98 of 120
Table 14 (c). PSA productivity and susceptibility attributes and scores for fish and invertebrates.
Performance Indicator 2.2.1
Productivity
Average maximum
3-4 years (round bodies sardinella) (Hunnam, 2021) 1
age
Fecundity 14,851 1
Average maximum
19 cm 1
size
Average size at
13.5 cm 1
maturity
Reproductive
Broadcast spawner 1
strategy
Susceptibility
Fishery
Only where the scoring Sardinella fimbriata, Sardinella albella, Sardinella gibbosa (Rosidi et al.,
element is scored 2021; www.mybis.gov.my, 2023)
cumulatively
page 99 of 120
mesh size 1.5-2.5 inches.
Post capture
Highly likely the catch is majority dead when released. 3
mortality
Catch (weight)
Only where the scoring
N/A -
element is scored
cumulatively
Productivity
Average age at
< 2 years (Noegroho et al., 2021) 1
maturity
Average maximum
3 years 1
age
Fecundity 48,000-262,000 1
Average maximum
70 cm 1
size
Average size at
17.7 cm 1
maturity
Reproductive
Broadcast spawner 1
strategy
Susceptibility
Fishery
Only where the scoring
N/A
element is scored
cumulatively
Post capture
Highly likely the catch is majority dead when released. 3
mortality
Catch (weight)
Only where the scoring
N/A -
element is scored
cumulatively
Productivity
Average age at
1.1 year: 0.9-1.4 year (in a range) (fishider.org, 2023) 1
maturity
Average maximum
4 years 1
age
Fecundity 37,690-170,455 1
Average maximum
36 cm 1
size
Average size at
19.9 cm 2
maturity
Reproductive
Broadcast spawner 1
strategy
Susceptibility
Fishery
Only where the scoring
N/A
element is scored
cumulatively
Post capture
Highly likely the catch is majority dead when released. 3
mortality
Catch (weight)
Only where the scoring
N/A -
element is scored
cumulatively
Productivity
Average age at
1 years 1
maturity
Average maximum
8 years 1
age
Fecundity 121,000-132,900 1
Average maximum
27 cm- 1
size
Average size at
15 cm 1
maturity
Reproductive
Broadcast spawner 1
strategy
Susceptibility
Fishery
Only where the scoring Amblygaster clupeoides, Amblygaster leiogaster, & Amblygaster sirm
element is scored
cumulatively
Post capture Highly likely the catch is majority dead when released. 3
Catch (weight)
Only where the scoring
N/A -
element is scored
cumulatively
Productivity
Average age at
1.5 year (fishider.org, 2023) 1
maturity
Average maximum
3.5 years (fishider.org, 2023) 1
age
Fecundity 63,000-161,000 1
Average maximum
30 cm 1
size
Average size at
17 cm 1
maturity
Reproductive
Broadcast spawner 1
strategy
Susceptibility
Fishery
Only where the scoring
N/A
element is scored
cumulatively
Post capture Highly likely the catch is majority dead when released. 3
Catch (weight)
Only where the scoring
N/A -
element is scored
cumulatively
Productivity
Average age at
2 - 3 years 1
maturity
Average maximum
5 years 1
age
Average maximum
65 cm 1
size
Average size at
29.5 cm 1
maturity
Reproductive
Broadcast spawner (external) 1
strategy
Susceptibility
Fishery
Only where the scoring
N/A
element is scored
cumulatively
Catch (weight)
Only where the scoring
N/A -
element is scored
cumulatively
Table 15. Productivity Susceptibility Analysis (PSA) elements of sea turtles and cetacean
Productivity Susceptibility
Productivity
Average age at
7-13 years: 14-17 years 2
maturity
Susceptibility
Fishery
Only where the scoring
N/A
element is scored
cumulatively
Post capture All of the ETP species listed in Table 8 prohibited by Malaysia
2
mortality government, mandatory release, but no evidence.
Productivity
Average age at
11-16 years 3
maturity
Susceptibility
Fishery
Only where the scoring
N/A
element is scored
cumulatively
Post capture All of the ETP species listed in Table 8 prohibited by Malaysia
2
mortality government, mandatory release, but no evidence.
Productivity
Average age at
26-40 years 3
maturity
Susceptibility
Fishery
Only where the scoring
N/A
element is scored
cumulatively
Green turtles can depth up to > 200 m, but mostly they will
spend their life on the surface in order to access oxygen for
Encounterability 3
their breath. This makes them highly likely to be accidentally
caught by the LOT fishing in the UoA.
Post capture All of the ETP species listed in Table 8 prohibited by Malaysia
2
mortality government, mandatory release, but no evidence.
Productivity
Average age at
20-25 years 3
maturity
Susceptibility
Fishery
Only where the scoring
N/A
element is scored
cumulatively
Post capture All of the ETP species listed in Table 8 prohibited by Malaysia
2
mortality government, mandatory release, but no evidence.
Productivity
Average age at
5 - 10 years 3
maturity
Susceptibility
Fishery
Only where the scoring
N/A
element is scored
cumulatively
Post capture All of the ETP species listed in Table 8 prohibited by Malaysia
2
mortality government, mandatory release, but no evidence.
Removability of N/A (interaction between the fishing gear and the sea bed do
1
biota not occurs)
Removability of N/A (interaction between the fishing gear and the sea bed do
1
substratum not occurs)
Seabed slope Low degree, plains in coastal margin, inner or outer shelf 1
Species
-
Performance composition
Indicator PI Functional
2.5.1 group 60
Ecosystem 5 4 4 composition
outcome
Distribution of
-
the community
Trophic
-
size/structure
The LOT fishing in Southeast Asia is utilised from the South China Sea
Justification including the Gulf of Thailand and ECPM waters of Malaysia. This also
for spatial expanded to the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas as part of Indo - Pacific waters where
scale of LOT is concentrated. The LOT is a high economic value commodity and
fishing activity important nutrition in the region. Firmly the overlap of the ecosystem with the
fishing activity of the UoA covered up to 60% as the operated vessels.
The intensity of LOT fishing in the ECPM waters was predicted to be 101-200
Justification
days per year. Whereas the fishing season effectively happens during April to
for temporal
September for ECPM waters. Highly likely indicated that the surrounding waters
scale of
also have similar fishing seasons, such as in Gulf of Thailand where LOT fishing
fishing activity
(purse seine) mainly happen in the southern part near the Malaysia waters.
LOT fishing identified local to regional and occupied widespread areas within
Justification the South China Sea, including commercial fishers from ECPM and the Gulf of
for intensity of Thailand that caught LOT in the same stock. Categorised as major due to
fishing activity evidence of fishing activity occurring reasonably often at a broad spatial scale
within the South China Sea.
Chayakul, R. & C. Chamchang. 1988. Description and identification of longtail tuna larvae, Thunnus
tonggol (Bleeker) in the Gulf of Thailand. Indo-Pac.Tuna Dev.Mgt. Programme,
IPTP/87/GEN/13:71–9.
Chen, Z. & S. Wei. 1981. An investigation on the distribution of tuna fish larvae in the central region
of Nan. Hai. J.Fish.China, 5(1):41–7.
Chullasorn, S. 1995. Interaction of Thai tuna fisheries: problems, research and development. In:
Shomura, R. S., J. Majkowski, R. F. Harman (eds) Status of Interactions of Pacific Tuna
Fisheries in 1995. Proceedings of the Second FAO Expert Consultation on Interactions of
Pacific Tuna Fisheries, Shimizu, Japan, 23–31 January 1995. FAO Fisheries Technical
Paper. No. 365. FAO, Rome, p 612.
Collette, B.B. & C.E. Nauen. 1983. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An
annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known
to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(2). 137 p.
Department of Fisheries Malaysia, 2015. National plan of action for the management of fishing
capacity in Malaysia (Plan 2). Jabatan Perikanan Malaysia, Malaysia.
FAO. 2022. The State Of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022. Towards Blue Transformation.
Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc0461en
Ghani, H.M., & F. Asmat. Scoping study for LOT fishery improvement project in Tok Bali. Selangor:
WWF-Malaysia.
Griffiths, S.P., G.C. Fry, F.J. Manson, & D.C. Lou. 2010. Age and growth of LOT (Thunnus tonggol) in
tropical and temperate waters of the central Indo-Pacific. Journal of Marine Science. 60 (1):
125-134.
Griffiths, S.P., D. Leadbitter, D.A. Willette, F. Kaymarm, & M.M. Khan. 2020. Longtail tuna, Thunnus
tonggol (Bleeker, 1851): a global review of population dynamics, ecology, fisheries, and
considerations for future conservation and management. Fish Biol Fisheries. 30: 25-66.
Harlyan, L.I., & T. Matsuishi. 2017. An overview of [purse seine fisheries management in Malaysia.
Symposium Proceedings: Fisheries Science for Future Generation.
Hinke, J.T., I.C., Kaplan, K., Aydin, G.M., Watters, R.J., Olson, & J.F., Kitchell. 2oo4. Visualising the
food-web effects of fishing for tunas in the Pacific Ocean. Ecology and Society. Vol. 9 (1):
10.
Hunnam, K., The biology and ecology of tropical marine sardines and herrings in Indo-West Pacific
fisheries: a review. Rev Fish Biol Fisheries 31, 449–484 (2021).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-021-09649-9.
IGFA. 2017. 2017 World Record Game Fishes. International Game Fish Association, Florida.
IOTC. 2022. Status Summary for Species of Tuna and Tuna-Like Species Under the IOTC Mandate,
as Well as Other Species Impacted by IOTC Fisheries.
https://iotc.org/science/status-summary-species-tuna-and-tuna-species-under-iotc-mandat
e-well-other-species-impacted-iotc.
IPTP. 1985. Report on the Joint Tuna Research Group Meeting of the Philippines and Indonesia.
Indo-Pac.Tuna Dev.Mgt.Programme, IPTP/85/GEN/8:85 p.
IPTP. 1986. Report of the Meeting of Tuna Research Group in the Southeast Asian Region.
Indo-Pac.Tuna Dev.Mgt.Programme, IPTP/86/GEN/10:75 p.
Jamon, S. B., M., Khaing, T., Noegroho, P., Nootmorn, M. A. B., Ramlee, M. F. B. M., Saleh, R., Soklim,
W., Thitipongtrakul, H. M., Tung, & P. S. B. PYakob. 2021. Stock and risk assessment of
kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis) and longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol) resources in the
Southeast Asian waters using ASPIC. SEAFDEC.
Kamarruddin, I. & R. H. Raja Bidin. 1991. Notes on the species composition, size composition and
frequencies and length weight relationships of three species of small tunas found in the
waters off Terengganu, Malaysia (SEAC/90/28). Collective volume of working documents
presented at the Fourth Southeast Asian Tuna Conference, 27–30 November 1990,
Bangkok, Thailand, pp 215–225.
Kasim, N.S., T.N.A.M. Jaafar, R.M. Piah, W.M. Arshaad, S.A.M. Nor, A. Habib, M.A. Ghaffar, Y.Y. Sung,
M. Danish-Daniel, & M.P. Tan. 2020. Recent population expansion of LOT Thunnus tonggol
(Bleeker, 1851) inferred from the Mitochondrial DNA markers. PeerJ Live & Environment.
Kunal, S.P., G. Kumar, M.R. Menezes, R.M. Meena. 2014. Genetichomogeneity in longtail tuna
Thunnus tonggol (Bleeker, 1851) from the northwest coast of India inferred from direct
sequencing analysis of the mitochondrial DNA D-loop region. Mar Biol Res 10:738–743.
Lee, R. E. K. D. 1982. Thailand. Fishing for tuna. A report prepared for the pole-and-line fishing in
Southern Thailand Project, FAO. FI: DP/THA/77/008: Field doc. 1:65 p.
Muthiah, C. 1986. Fishery and bionomics of tunas at Mangalore. In Tuna fisheries of the exclusive
economic zone of India: biology and stock assessment, edited by E.G. Silas.
Bull.Cent.Mar.Fish.Res.Inst., Cochin, (36):51–70.
Noegroho, T. 2021. Productivity and susceptibility analysis of Indo-Pacific king mackerel in IFMA
711 waters. Rev Fish Biol Fisheries 31, 449–484 (2021).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-021-09649-9.
Nootmorn, P. 2015. The status of LOT (Thunnus tonggol) resource and fisheries in Thailand. Fifth
meeting of the IOTC Working Party on Neritic Tunas, Zanzibar, Tanzania 26–29 May 2015.
Document IOTC-2015-WPNT05-13 Rev_1.
Piah, M., N.H. Abdul Kadir, S.A. Kamaruddin, M.N. Azaman, & M.A. Ambak. 2018. Analysis of
Historical Landing Data to Understand the Status of Grouper Populations in Malaysia.
Malays. Appl. Biol. 47 (3): 49-58.
Pilcher, N. J., J., Bali, J., Buis, C. E., Heng, A., Devadasan, I., Isnain, N. H. B., Jamil, J., Joseph, L. M.,
Min, L. H., Chark, S. A. B. S. A., Kadir, S., Ruqaiyah, O. B., Tisen, J. P., Van Der Merwe, & J.,
Williams. 2019. A review of sea turtle satellite tracking in Malaysia. Indian Ocean Turtle
Newsletter. No. 29.
Raja Bidin, R. H. & R. Rumpet. 1990. Some aspects of longtail and kawakawa in Malaysia. In: Fourth
Southeast Asian Tuna Conference. FAO, Bangkok, Thailand, 27–30 November 1990, pp
105–113.
Rosidi, W. N. A. T. M., N. M., Arshad & N. F., Mohtar. 2021. Characterisation of Sardinella fimbriata
and Clarias gariepinus bones. BIODIVERSITAS. Vol. 22 (4): 1621-1626. DOI:
10.13057/biodiv/d220405.
Saraswati, P.N.A., P.G.S., Julyantoro, G.R.A., Kartika, & M.A., Pratiwi. 2020. Jenis makanan dan area
makan ikan tongkol abu-abu (Thunnus tonggol) yang didaratkan di PPI Kedonganan pada
Musim Barat. Curr.Trend.Aq.Sci. Vol. 3 (2): 24-29.
SEAFDEC. 2020. Country Report – Malaysia Practical workshop on stock and risk assessments of
LOT and kawakawa in Southeast Asian Waters.
SEAFDEC. 2022. Regional plan of action for sustainable utilisation of neritic tunas in the ASEAN
region.
Shaupi, M., A., Khalil, A.T., Ahmad, A., Saktian, A. Rahman, & H., Mohamed. 2011. Putting a plug on
increasing fishing capacity: NPOA for the management of fishing capacity in Malaysia. Fish
for the People. Vol. 9 (2).
Silas, E.G., P.P. Pillai, A.A. Jayaprakash, M.A. Pillai. 1986. Fishery and bionomics of tunas at Cochin.
In Tuna fisheries of the exclusive economic zone of India: biology and stock assessment,
edited by E.G. Silas. Bull.Cent.Mar.Fish.Res.Inst., Cochin, (36):28–44.
Siriraksophon, S. 2017. Sustainable management of neritic tuna in Southeast Asia: Longtail tuna
and kawakawa in focus. Fish for the People. 15 (2): 14-20.
Travaille, K. T., L. B. Crowder, G. A. Kendrick & J. C. Clifton. 2019. Key Attributes ERelated to FIshery
Improvement Project (FIP) Effectiveness in Promoting Improvements Towards Sustainability.
FIsh and FIsheries. Vol. 20 (3). DOI: 10.1111/faf.12357.
Wanchana, W., M. Torell, S. Sirirakshopon & V.T. Sulit. 2016., Addressing trans-boundary issues and
consolidating bilateral arrangements to combat IUU fishing. Fish for the People. 14 (2):
48-53.
WCPFC. 2023. Current Status and Management Advice for WCPFC Stocks of Interest.
https://www.wcpfc.int/current-stock-status-and-advice.
Willette, D.A., M.D. Santos and D. Leadbitter. 2016. Longtail tuna Thunnus tonggol (Bleeker, 1851)
shows genetic partitioning across, but not within, basins of the Indo-Pacific based on
mitochondrial DNA. J. Appl. Ichthyol. 32 (2016): 318–323.
Wilson, M.A. 1981. The biology, ecology and exploitation of longtail tuna, Thunnus tonggol (Bleeker)
in Oceania. M.Sc. Thesis. School of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, 195
p.
WWF-US Fisheries Program. 2013. FIP Handbook. Guidelines for Developing Fishery Improvement
Projects.
Yesaki, M. 1982. Biological and Environmental Observations. A report prepared for the
Pole-and-Line Tuna Fishing in Southern Thailand Project. FAO. FI: DP/THA/77/008: Field
doc. 3, 46 p.
Yonemori T, Yanagawa H, Pong LY (1995) Interactions of LOT fisheries in the western South China
Sea. In: Shomura, R. S., J. Majkowski, R. F. Harman (eds) Status of Interactions of Pacific
Tuna Fisheries in 1995. Proceedings of the Second FAO Expert Consultation on Interactions
of Pacific Tuna Fisheries, Shimizu, Japan, 23–31 January 1995. FAO Fisheries Technical
Paper. No. 365. FAO, Rome, p 612.
124