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Current fisheries and aquaculture policies relevant to RFLP in Timor-Leste

Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme for South and Southeast Asia. (GCP/RAS/237/SPA)

Year of publication 2010

Pages 35 p.

Author do Amaral, J. X.

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The country of Timor-Leste and particularly its small island districts are highly dependent upon their marine resources for economic and social development. Fisheries is an important livelihood source and provides sustenance for the people of the country, contributing to food security, poverty alleviation, employment, foreign exchange earnings, development and the stability of rural and coastal communities, while also providing culture, recreation and tourism. In the National First Development P lan of Timor-Leste 2002, the Agriculture sector on which 85% of the population depend, was third priority after the Health, and Education sectors. One agriculture sub-sector with potential is the fisheries (Anon, 2007). Timor-Leste has great fishing potential, but the sector is under-developed. The main fishing grounds, which are along the northern and southern coasts, provide a diversified range of fish and shellfish, most of which is for internal consumption. Despite an abundance of aquatic pr oducts little reaches Timor-Leste‟s interior (Anon, 2007). Timor-Leste has 706 km of coastline and an marine exclusive economic zone (EEZ), over which it has exclusive fishing rights, of approximately 75,000 km2. Though this fishing area is small by international standards, it has the potential to provide valuable high grade animal protein to feed Timor-Leste‟s people and to provide employment, significant income earning opportunities and foreign exchange from fish exports. The value of Timor-Le ste‟s aquatic marine resources and the resulting benefits to our people, both in the short-term and long-term, will depend on how well these resources are managed (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries State Secretariat of Fisheries, 2007). Inland, aquaculture of tilapia and carp played a significant role in the rural economy prior to independence from Indonesia. When the Indonesians departed in 1999, hatcheries and ponds were destroyed or damaged, and broodstock were consumed. The National Dire ctorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture (NDFA) is actively working to restore the rural aquaculture sector, which will make an important contribution to improving rural food security. This policy is based on a review of progress made over the last several years and updates our previous strategic plan “Fish for the Future: a strategic plan for the fisheries of East Timor” released in May 2001. This new document like the Fisheries Law, the Government Decree Law and other documents also emphasises iss ues that need to be addressed to ensure there will be sufficient fish for future generations.

Language English

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