Apec moves to ensure healthy ‘blue economy’

MEMBER economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) have put increased emphasis on the so-called “blue economy” with the belief that laying the foundation for healthy and resilient marine and ocean resources will be just as critical to ensuring inclusive growth across the region.

According to the Departments of Agriculture (DA) and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), this was the first time the Apec meetings on food security included a session on the blue economy, which refers to a “developmental approach anchored on sustainable development and utilization of marine resources and ecosystems in Apec.”

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, in his speech, noted that the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and Blue Economy held in Iloilo City earlier this month yielded specific initiatives that stemmed from a dialogue process involving small holders, including marginal and sub-marginal farmers and entrepreneurs.

Alcala said the Iloilo Plan of Action on Food Security and the Blue Economy consisted of three specific pillars namely: blue economy toward sustainable food supply chains for food security; fish loss reduction for increased fish production; and agribusiness development for food security and inclusive growth.

The plan is seen to “operationalize and help realize the intent and goals of all of the Apec declarations on food security and the blue economy, including the Xiamen Declaration (2014) and Bali Declaration (2013).”

Separately, Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje noted that the dialogues on food security discussed three main priorities.

“The first set of initiatives pertained to concrete feasible actions to sustainably manage our coastal and marine resources. This, we believe, will lead to resilient oceans and coastal resources and ecosystems, coastal communities and sustainable aquaculture,” Paje said in his speech.

“The next set of actions comprised of important strategies geared toward the significant reduction of fish loss during harvest, storage, processing and distribution marketing while the third set of actions will lead to the development of an agri-business plan in blue economy in the Apec region that will open opportunities for inclusive economic growth,” he said.

According to Paje, the Plan of Action adopted by officials would likely see the integration of the work of the Oceans Fisheries Working Group and Policy Partnership on Food Security of Apec.

“The Plan of Action that we have adopted gives emphasis on science-based conservation, restoration, enhancement, protection management of our ocean, coastal and marine resources and sustainable aquaculture in the Apec region. It is expected that through these actions we can optimize support for fishery productivity and better ecological services that the various marine ecosystems provide. The improvement of the conditions of our ocean resources, together with the efficient strategies for reducing food losses in each stage of the supply chain, translate to more and better quality food for our people,” Paje said.

“Likewise, this Plan of Action promotes business market development and open integration for small-scale fishers and fish farmers into global food chains in the context of blue economy. This is the reason why we are so privileged to be part of this historic meeting. I’m very pleased that we have adopted a Plan of Action in taking the first step in collectively addressing our common problems besetting our coastal and marine resources in our region. We have indeed added an extra mile in our journey to foster economic growth in our region and narrow the economic gap,” Paje explained.