Using tropical trawl fisheries as an example, the paper explores options to improve fishery management in Asia and develop regional guidelines by the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC). The paper provides a background description of the history of tropical trawling and its evolution to the present day. The ecosystem and fishery impacts are described under the headings of socio-economics, environment and ecosystem and governance. The management options are outlined for the various issues in tropical trawl fisheries, noting that management is context specific for each fishery. The APFIC guideline process to develop a management plan for a tropical trawl fishery is described.

Tropical trawling, guidelines, fishery management.