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of reports on markets for fish products. FAO cooperated with INFOFISH in the conduct of a shrimp conference in the region in 1988, and provided training and advisory services in fish handling and processing technology through the Regional Project Assistance in Fish Handling and Processing. A workshop on Fishery Credit and Marketing Development was organized by FAO in 1989 for senior personnel of governmental and non-governmental institutions and organizations.

105.

Assistance was provided to Pakistan in training staff on fish handling and marketing quality control and inspection. Solomon Islands was assisted in improving rural fish processing. In cooperation with DANIDA, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea were assisted in conducting national workshops on fish handling and quality control.

Fisheries Policy

106. Regional collaboration in fisheries management and development was enhanced through meetings of the IOFC Committee for the Development and Management of Fisheries in the Bay of Bengal and the IPFC Committee for the Development and Management of Fisheries in the South China Sea. The latter was followed up by an ad hoc meeting in 1989 which reviewed its structure, functions and responsibilities. The discussions of the IOFC Committee, for the Management of the Indian Ocean Tuna, were followed up by a diplomatic conference to consider the establishment of a new body for the management of the Indian Ocean Tuna. The Conference agreed that there was need for further consultations before a draft agreement could be adopted.

107. Policy advice was provided to Tonga in finalizing a new Fisheries Act and in training for its implementation; the Philippines in strengthening its capability to benefit from extended maritime jurisdiction and Bangladesh for carrying out structural change and manpower development of its fisheries sector.

X.

FORESTRY

Forest Resources and Environment

108.

During the biennium the focus was on gathering quantitative and qualitative data concerning the rapidly changing status of forest cover in the Region under the recently initiated global project: "Tropical Forest Resources Assessment 1990". Digital vegetation and ecofloristic zone maps were prepared for South and Southeast Asia and integrated into the FAO Geographic Information System. A FAO Forestry Paper, "Forest Management Systems of Tropical Asia", was published. FAO continued to disseminate information on conservation and management of forest resources through the regional publication "TIGERPAPER" which incorporated "FOREST NEWS".

109.

Collaboration in conservation and seed collection/evaluation was continued with national institutes in China, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and CSIRO Australia. A Data Book on "Endangered Tree and Shrub Species and Provenances", a "Guide to Forest Seed Handling", and the annual newsletter "Forest Genetic Resources Information" were published. A popular version of FAO Forestry Paper No 59 "Ecological Effects of Eucalyptus" was published. The 18th Session of the International Poplar Commission was held in China in September 1988.