The fisheries sector is part of the broader cooperation of the ASEAN Committee on Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (COFAF) established in 1977. In 1983, the ASEAN Ministerial Understanding on Fisheries Cooperation was adopted by the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Food (AMAF) to foster closer cooperation in the areas of fisheries management and conservation, exchange of technology, fisheries trade and marketing. Following the dissolution of the ASEAN COFAF in 1992 and the 14th AMAF decision of providing SOM-AMAF the important role in reformulating new policy guidelines for ASEAN cooperation in food, agriculture and forestry, the ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Fisheries (ASWGFi) was reconstituted as one of the subsidiary bodies providing technical support to SOM-AMAF.

The Strategic Plan of Action for ASEAN Cooperation on Fisheries (2016-2020) defines the strategic thrusts and priority actions of the fisheries sector focusing on enhancing trade and market access, enhancing fisheries production using sustainable technologies, ensuring food security and safety, increasing resilience to climate change and natural shocks, assisting small producers to increase competitiveness, and strengthening  joint  approaches  on  international  and regional issues affecting the fisheries sector.

The ASWGFi is supported by the following sub-working working groups in the implementation of the strategic plan of action: 

1. ASEAN Shrimp Alliance (ASA) provides a platform for government and private sector to formulate and harmonize shrimp production and certification standards, and to discuss issues affecting shrimp production and trade; 
2. Fisheries Consultative Group of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Strategic Partnership (FCG/ASSP) provides a mechanism for ASEAN and SEAFDEC to work together in developing common or coordinated positions on international fisheries issues and implementing mutually agreed fisheries programs; 
3. ASEAN Fisheries Consultative Forum (AFCF) provides a platform to discuss and address common problems on fisheries management and development faced by AMS; and
4. Expert Working Group on ASEAN Good Aquaculture Practice (EWG-ASEAN GAqP) provides a mechanism to develop and review the ASEAN certification system and best practices guidelines or standards for aquaculture commodities.

ASEAN Member States have made significant progress in reducing tariffs on fishery products and continue to exert efforts on harmonizing standards and technical regulations to improve fisheries production and facilitate trade. Recent initiatives include the implementation of the ASEAN Guidelines of Good Aquaculture Practices for Food Fish, Standards on ASEAN Good Aquaculture Practices for Shrimp Farming, Template on the Arrangement on the Equivalence of Fishery Product Inspection and Certification System, and Regional Guidelines on Traceability System for Aquaculture Products in ASEAN.

Beyond fisheries production and trade, AMS continue to implement measures aiming to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks in the region. Efforts include the development of management measures for neritic tunas and eel resources, development of common positions on the inclusion of commercially-exploited aquatic species in CITES Appendix, and implementation of technical guidelines on early warning system for aquatic animal health emergencies. To combat IUU fishing in the region, AMS have adopted the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Joint Declaration on Regional Cooperation for Combating IUU Fishing and Enhancing the Competitiveness of ASEAN Fish and Fishery Products, and continue to implement the Guidelines for Preventing the Entry of Fish and Fishery Products from IUU Fishing Activities into the Supply Chain, Regional Plan of Action for Managing Fishing Capacity and ASEAN Catch Documentation Scheme for Marine Fisheries.