This report presents the outcomes of the ALDFG Strategic Planning Workshop held in Makassar from 30 September to 2 October 2025. Bringing together government, fishers, businesses, academia, and civil society, the workshop identified the key causes of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 718 and explored practical solutions to address them.

The report highlights priority actions across policy, capacity building, circular economy, and research and innovation. It also identifies key stakeholders, implementation priorities, and potential pilot locations to support future ALDFG management in Indonesia.

The Second Consultative Meeting of the ATSEA Regional Coordination Committee (RCC), held virtually on 16 July 2026, brought together 30 participants from Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, alongside representatives of the ATSEA Interim Regional Secretariat, Strategic Development Partners, and observer organisations. The meeting reviewed progress in implementing the Regional Governance Mechanism (RGM) and Strategic Action Programme (SAP). Discussions covered ALDFG and dugong conservation initiatives, resource mobilisation, regional partnerships, and the proposed ATSEA–CTI-CFF Strategic Association. The meeting also agreed on key follow-up actions for the remainder of 2026.

This report presents findings from a field assessment of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in Daru and the Forecoast villages of Western Province, Papua New Guinea. Based on interviews and observations across 17 coastal communities, it explores local fishing practices, gear types, patterns of gear loss, and the impacts on small-scale fishers.The assessment highlights how environmental conditions, particularly strong currents and weather, contribute to gear loss, alongside operational challenges faced by fishers. It also provides estimates of economic losses and identifies practical, locally relevant measures to reduce ALDFG, including improved gear management, access to information, and potential recycling approaches.

This report presents the development of Theories of Change to address Abandoned, Lost, or otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) in the Arafura and Timor Seas. Drawing on a regional workshop and stakeholder inputs, it outlines key drivers of gear loss and identifies priority intervention areas, including vessel-level practices, gear modification, hazard mapping, and net recycling. The report maps out practical pathways for action, highlights enabling policy and capacity-building measures, and supports the development of a coordinated regional response under the ATSEA Strategic Action Programme (SAP) 2024–2033.

The Second Annual Meeting of the ATSEA Regional Coordination Committee (RCC), held on 3–4 December 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia, brought together participants from Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, alongside Strategic Development Partners and observer organisations. Hosted by the Government of Indonesia through the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the meeting marked the completion of the first transition year from the ATSEA-2 Project to the long-term ATSEA Program. Discussions focused on institutionalising the Regional Governance Mechanism (RGM), advancing the Regional Action Plan (RAP) on Abandoned, Lost or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG), mobilising resources to support the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) 2024–2033, and strengthening collaboration with regional partners. The meeting also endorsed key decisions on governance arrangements, work planning and budgeting for 2026, and next steps toward a strategic association with CTI-CFF, reinforcing collective efforts to support sustainable management of the Arafura and Timor Seas.

This assessment presents findings from field surveys in Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 718, covering Dobo, Merauke, and Jakarta, to better understand the scale and causes of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) associated with gillnet and purse seine fisheries. The report highlights patterns of gear loss, economic impacts on fishers, and key factors contributing to ALDFG, and provides practical recommendations to support the development of regional action plans and on-the-ground interventions.

The First Consultative Meeting of the ATSEA Regional Coordination Committee (RCC), held virtually on 25 June 2025, brought together representatives from Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea to review progress since the ATSEA Program transition. Chaired by Papua New Guinea, the meeting provided timely guidance on implementing the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) and National Action Programmes (NAPs). Key discussions covered ghost gear management, funding opportunities, and long-term options for institutionalising the Regional Governance Mechanism (RGM). The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to coordination, sustainability, and future collaboration across the Arafura and Timor Seas.

The First ATSEA RCC Meeting, held on December 10-11, 2024, in Bali, Indonesia, marked the launch of the ATSEA Regional Governance Mechanism (RGM). Representatives from Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea reviewed governance structures, endorsed the Strategic Development Partner, and finalised the 2025 work plan and budget. Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration, sustainable resource management, and operational plans for the Arafura and Timor Seas Program. This meeting set the foundation for regional cooperation and progress under the newly established RGM framework.