Dita Liliansa delivered a presentation titled ‘Regional Cooperation on Fishing Vessel Safety in Southeast Asia” at the 2023 International Marine Economy and Maritime Services Forum in Ningbo, China (17-19 July 2023).

In her presentation, Dita highlighted the alarming fact that fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, with significantly higher fatalities compared to commercial shipping. Despite this risk, Southeast Asian states, which host some of the world’s top marine capture fisheries producers, show reluctance to ratify the Cape Town Agreement on fishing vessel safety, which specifically targets large fishing vessels of 24 metres and above. This limitation raises concerns about the safety standards for fishing vessels below 24 metres in length, which are prevalent in the region. While the Cape Town Agreement is yet to enter into force, Dita’s presentation revealed that Southeast Asian states have been engaging in cooperative efforts to develop and implement measures for ensuring the safety of smaller fishing vessels.