Regional State of the Coral Triangle - Coral Triangle Marine Resources: Their Status, Economies, and Management

The Regional State of the Coral Triangle summarizes the status of marine resources in the Coral Triangle. The first report of its type, it provides baseline data against which sustainable development can be measured. The countries that make up this ecologically diverse area—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste—have committed to maintain the ecological integrity of coral reefs and the marine species that inhabit them, and improve the affordability, availability, quality, and safety of food they provide.

This report describes their plan for achieving these objectives, which also requires addressing population growth, the demand for fish, and the pace of coastal development in the Coral Triangle.

Conclusions

Five major thematic thrusts are put forward to enhance the links between the national and the regional plans of action to the desired outcomes, and contribute to the achievement of the five Coral Triangle Initiative goals and three higher-level outcomes:

• Achieve synergies at different governance scales to earn the value-added benefits of overcoming transactional costs;
• Invest in capacity building and knowledge management to overcome the lack of governance capabilities;
• Exchange resources and engage and empower equitable partnerships;
• Commit to the harmonization of fisheries production targets with biodiversity conservation and food security needs; and
• Reduce risks and threats through integration.