Arafura and Timor Seas Expert Forum (ATSEF)
Contact Persons
- Dr. Tonny Wagey
Regional Coordinator, Arafura and Timor Seas Expert Forum
Jl. M.T. Haryono, Kav. 52-53, Jakarta, 12770
Indonesiar /> Phone/Fax: +62 21 79180175
Email: t.wagey@fisheries.ubc.ca
- Dr. Ilse Kiessling
National Coordinator - Australia Arafura and Timor Seas Expert Forum
(ATSEF)
PO Box 41321
Casuarina, Northern Territory
Australia 0811 r /> Tel. +61 (0)8 8920 9933
Fax. +61(0)8 8920 9934
Mobile. +(0)408 318 944
Email:
Ilse.Kiessling@environment.gov.au
Location
The Arafura and Timor seas are contiguous, semi-enclosed seas bordered
by Indonesia and Timor-Leste to the North, Papua New Guinea to the East,
and Australia to the South. Water from the Pacific Ocean flows into the
Indian Ocean through the Arafura and Timor seas, and provide corridor for
migration to some marine mammals.
Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of the Forum is to assist in achieving the goals of sustainable
development and poverty alleviation in the Arafura and Timor Seas region,
particularly for the coastal communities, who depend upon marine and fisheries
resources for their livelihood.
Focal Issues
There are five priority foci to which the Forum directs its research
activities.
1. Preventing, deterring and eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated
(IUU) fishing in the Arafura and Timor Seas:
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is a major cause of unsustainable
stock depletion, endangering the survival of species and of marine and coastal
habitats. It prevents the sustainable use and development of the seas’ living
resources.
2. Sustaining fish stocks, sustaining marine habitats and coastal and
marine biodiversity:
Knowledge of the condition of harvested species, marine biota and of
their habitats is the essential prerequisite for wise management of the
living resources.
3. Assisting sustainable and/or alternative livelihoods for coastal
and indigenous Communities:
Research and action undertaken to ensure sustainable livelihoods and
the well-being of indigenous and coastal communities is essential to the
pursuit of the Forum’s objective of poverty alleviation and sustainable
development.
4. Understanding the marine, coastal, and catchments system dynamics
of the seas:
A profound understanding of the system dynamics of the seas is the basis
for achieving ATSEF priorities and the sustainable use of the seas’ living
resources.
5. Improving capacity for data information, management and sharing between
the littoral nations of the seas:
Without information sharing, the knowledge base for the sustainable management
of the seas and use of its resources will not be accessible to managers,
government agencies, coastal and indigenous communities, commercial operations
and other stakeholders who require it. Data management is also essential
to prevent wasteful duplication of research.
Ecosystem services assessed
Fish stocks, marine habitats, coastal and marine biodiversity, and wetland
ecosystems.
Key features of assessment area
These semi-enclosed seas are the global maximum for marine biodiversity.
They are among the few seas where stocks depletion has been minimal, though
that status is deteriorating rapidly. This area is also known as one of
the hot spot of IUU fishing activities in the region. The near coast of
much of the region consists of wetlands/ floodplains that are critical to
migratory bird species. Despite this abundance, 50% of the population of
the coastal communities and the littoral states live below the absolute
poverty line.