http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/6576 2026-05-19T06:30:51Z 2026-05-19T06:30:51Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7659 2026-03-10T19:30:56Z 2026-03-01T00:00:00Z

The Japanese Trust Fund Project Report (JTF 6 Phase II) Since 1998, the Government of Japan, through the Japan Trust Fund (JTF), has been a steadfast partner in advancing SEAFDEC’s mission to promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in the ASEAN region. Over the past two and a half decades, this partnership has grown stronger, enabling the implementation of numerous regional initiatives that have significantly contributed to policy development, capacity building, and the promotion of responsible fisheries practices across Southeast Asia. Established by the Fisheries Agency of Japan, the JTF has provided continuous support to SEAFDEC through a series of multi-year project cycles. Each cycle has been carefully designed to respond to the region’s evolving priorities – ranging from foundational capacity building and technology transfers in earlier years, to more recent efforts focused on ecosystem approaches, digital transformation, and adaptive resource management. This progressive and flexible structure has allowed SEAFDEC and its Member Countries to effectively address both persistent and emerging fisheries-related challenges. This report presents the achievements and outcomes of the most recent implementation cycle – Phase II of the JTF Project 6 (2020–2024). Despite the global disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the activities implemented during this period remained resilient and responsive. Collaborative efforts addressed critical areas such as coastal and inland fisheries management, aquatic animal health, sustainable utilization and conservation of fishery resources and habitats, fishery statistics improvement, climate resilience, combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and emerging international fisheries-related issues. These initiatives not only supported national and regional policy directions but also contributed to global efforts in promoting sustainable fisheries. Over the years, the JTF-supported programs have had a transformative impact on the region by strengthening institutional capacities, fostering science-based fisheries and aquaculture practices, and promoting effective responses to climate change, stock depletion, and IUU fishing. They have also supported stock enhancement through restocking programs, habitat rehabilitation, and community-based fisheries resource management initiatives. In addition, these efforts have helped institutionalize sustainable fisheries frameworks aligned with international commitments, improved data systems and fishery statistics, and deepened cooperation among ASEAN Member States. Collectively, these outcomes have positioned SEAFDEC as a leading regional institution in addressing both global and regional fisheries challenges. Importantly, the work under JTF-6 Phase II has been aligned with broader regional and international frameworks, including the SEAFDEC Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region Towards 2030 (RES&POA-2030), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 14 on Life Below Water—as well as the targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Through these alignments, SEAFDEC and its partners have reinforced efforts to ensure the sustainable use of aquatic resources, the protection of biodiversity, and the enhancement of food security and livelihoods in the region. On behalf of SEAFDEC, I wish to express our deepest appreciation to the Government of Japan for its continued commitment and generous support to the fisheries sector of Southeast Asia. The trust placed in SEAFDEC and its Member Countries has enabled the region to pursue long-term goals and objectives with confidence and to implement solutions that are locally relevant and regionally coordinated. Looking ahead, the recently launched JTF Project Phase 7 (2025–2029) builds upon a strong foundation laid over 25 years. It is expected to further promote regional cooperation, strengthen innovation, and address emerging priorities such as climate resilience, digital transformation, and inclusive governance. Ms. Sampan Panjarat With the unwavering support of the Japanese Government, SEAFDEC remains committed to working closely with ASEAN Member States in fostering sustainable, inclusive, and science-based fisheries and aquaculture development for generations to come.

2026-03-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/6577 2020-10-19T23:49:42Z 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z

The Japanese Trust Fund Project Report (JTF6 Phase I) for Promotion of Sustainable Fisheries in the Southeast Asian Region Since 1998, six phases of the Japanese Trust Fund (JTF) program have been implemented in the Southeast Asian region at SEAFDEC, and a number of activities carried out by the SEAFDEC Secretariat and Departments had been completed resulting in developed fisheries and aquaculture technologies which were transferred to the Southeast Asian countries through enhanced capacity building, as well as policy recommendations and guidelines that were used by the countries to revise their respective laws and regulations for the sustainable development of their fisheries. The project activities under the JTF6 Phase I from 2013 to 2019 were carried out in the region in line with the Resolutions and Plans of Action for Sustainable Fisheries in the ASEAN Region that were adopted during the ASEAN­ SEAFDEC Conference on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security Towards 2020 "Fish for the People 2020: Adaptation to a Changing Environment" in June 2011 as not only SEAFDEC projects but also ASEAN projects under the Fisheries Consultative Group of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Strategic Partnership (FCG/ASSP) mechanism to strengthen common goals on sustainable fisheries development for food security and poverty eradication. During the JTF6 Phase I, a number of common policies and guidelines were developed and adopted by ASEAN as well as training activities for ASEAN Member States and R&D of fisheries and aquaculture technologies were implemented. The significant achievements through the implementation of the various projects funded by the JTF6 Phase I are summarized in this document. SEAFDEC has been successful in transforming the status of the region's fisheries from being production-oriented to sustainability. In the past 20 years, fisheries production from the Southeast Asian countries has continuously soared higher making the region as one of the most reputable in terms of fisheries production. SEAFDEC will continue to foster the mainstreaming of the policies and findings in fisheries and aquaculture that emanate from the activities to be conducted under the JTF6 Phase II program started from 2020 in the ASEAN context for sustainable development of fisheries in the region.

2020-01-01T00:00:00Z