http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7631 2026-04-06T00:32:05Z 2026-04-06T00:32:05Z Kaewnuratchadasorn, Pattaratjit Wanchana, Worawit http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7640 2025-12-12T19:30:58Z 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z

Affirming the Role of SEAFDEC in Facilitating Regional Engagement to Address International Fisheries and Fish Trade Issues Kaewnuratchadasorn, Pattaratjit; Wanchana, Worawit Over the years, several international legally and nonlegally binding fisheries and fish trade agreements have been established by several organizations and conventions, including the United Nations (UN), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of World Fauna and Flora (CITES), World Trade Organization (WTO), and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), among others. These international agreements aim to enhance international cooperation for the sustainable management of the aquatic environment and fisheries. At the regional level, the Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region Towards 2030 (RES&POA-2030) (SEAFDEC, 2020) serve as policy framework for priority actions for the ASEAN Member States (AMSs) to support fisheries development towards sustainability and enhance the contribution of fisheries to food security and livelihood of peoples in the Southeast Asian region. Concerning the international trade in fish and fishery products, the RES&POA-2030 stipulate RES No. 19 “Promote joint ASEAN approaches and positions international trade in fish and fishery products produced in the region, by harmonizing the standards, criteria, and guidelines, and developing mutually recognized agreements on sustainability and food safety management systems” as well as the POA No. 82 “Strengthen cooperation and mechanisms among AMSs to work towards common positions that could be reflected in international fish trade related fora, e.g. World Trade Organization (WTO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade, Office International des Epizooties (OIE), Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).” This article highlights the role of SEAFDEC in supporting the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Member Countries in addressing international fisheries and fish trade issues, particularly in compliance with CITES and WTO.

2025-12-01T00:00:00Z Weerawat, Panitnard Tiaye, Rattana Suasi, Thanyalak Sornkliang, Jariya http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7639 2025-12-12T19:30:57Z 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z

Lessons and Approaches Towards Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries Management in Southeast Asia Weerawat, Panitnard; Tiaye, Rattana; Suasi, Thanyalak; Sornkliang, Jariya Acknowledging the critical importance of small-scale fisheries to the livelihoods of communities and the sustainability of marine resources, SEAFDEC implemented the project “Small-Scale Fisheries Management for Better Livelihood and Fisheries Resources”, supported by the Japanese Trust Fund (JTF) 6-2, which ran from 2020 to 2024. The Project aimed to enhance local livelihoods while ensuring the sustainable management of small-scale fisheries through the ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM). The components of the Project include the practical application of EAFM principles in designated pilot learning sites in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand; capacity development to enhance the livelihoods and well-being of small-scale fishers; and gender empowerment for sustainable fisheries management. During the implementation of the Project, key lessons were learned, which include community engagement and participation in fisheries management, capacity building and education in sustainable fisheries management, sustainable livelihoods beyond fishing, fisheries management through digital data collection, socioeconomic assistance for small-scale fishers, and gender integration in fisheries management. Nevertheless, several needs and challenges in small-scale fisheries were identified, including overfishing and resource depletion, legal and governance frameworks, climate change and extreme weather events, economic stability and access to financial resources, community engagement and governance, gender equality and empowerment, habitat restoration and protection, capacity building and knowledge transfer, market access and economic diversification, sustainability and environmental awareness. This article features the valuable insights and experiences generated from the implementation of the Project, revealing effective practices and strategies for managing small-scale fisheries in the Southeast Asian region.

2025-12-01T00:00:00Z Soesmono, Andi Muthmainnah, Dina Suryati, Ni Komang Supriyadi, Freddy Aroef Hukmanan Rais, Aroef Hukmanan Sawestri, Sevi Nurwanti Shimoda, Toru Adrianto, Luky http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7638 2025-12-12T19:30:56Z 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z

Advancing the Leadership of SEAFDEC in Sustainable Inland Fisheries Governance in the Southeast Asian Region Soesmono, Andi; Muthmainnah, Dina; Suryati, Ni Komang; Supriyadi, Freddy; Aroef Hukmanan; Rais, Aroef Hukmanan; Sawestri, Sevi; Nurwanti; Shimoda, Toru; Adrianto, Luky This article reviews the current state of inland fisheries in Southeast Asia and highlights the role of SEAFDEC/IFRDMD in leading regional efforts toward sustainable inland fisheries governance in Southeast Asia. Drawing on the achievements of the two projects in 2020–2024 supported by the Japan Trust Fund 6-2, IFRDMD promoted the importance of inland fisheries for food security and advocated for increased policy support to ensure their long term sustainability. Furthermore, IFRDMD also played a pivotal role in enhancing technical capacity, strengthening governance mechanisms, and promoting sustainable practices for inland fisheries management across Southeast Asia. To showcase the results of its years of work, IFRDMD organized the “Workshop of Best Practices in Inland Fisheries Management” on 23 October 2024 in Palembang, Indonesia. At this event, IFRDMD presented the key achievements of its two flagship initiatives, entitled “Management Scheme of Inland Fisheries in the Southeast Asian Region” and “Sustainable Management of Anguillid Eel Fisheries in the Southeast Asian Region.” The Workshop underscored the critical contributions of inland fisheries to food security and the broader agri-food transformation, demonstrating a collective commitment to the sector’s long-term resilience.

2025-12-01T00:00:00Z Manomayidthikarn, Khunthawat Arnupapboon, Sukchai http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7637 2025-12-12T19:30:55Z 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z

Converting Marine Plastic Debris into Useful Fuel: a case study of nylon netting fragments and discarded plastic bags in Rayong, Thailand Manomayidthikarn, Khunthawat; Arnupapboon, Sukchai Marine plastic pollution, particularly from fishing activities and coastal communities, poses a growing environmental challenge, with Southeast Asia being a significant contributor. The SEAFDEC Training Department, under the project “Sustainable Utilization of Fisheries Resources and Resources Enhancement in Southeast Asia” supported by the Japanese Trust Fund 6-2, conducted a study to address this issue by exploring a thermal pyrolysis-based solution to convert marine plastic debris, specifically nylon netting fragments from crab bottom gillnets and discarded plastic bags, into usable fuel. A survey of local fishers in ten fishing communities along the coast of Rayong, Thailand in 2023 indicated that each community generated significant amounts of nylon netting fragments from crab bottom gillnets, guided the design of a 5-liter reactor capable of processing 1–3 kg of waste. The pyrolysis process, conducted at temperatures between 400 °C and 550 °C, demonstrated that discarded plastic bags yielded a higher oil recovery rate (47.3 %) compared to nylon netting fragments (20.0 %), highlighting the influence of material composition on oil yield. Furthermore, discarded plastic bags were found to be more suitable for pyrolysis due to their quicker ignition and milder odor. While the distillation energy requirements for both types of marine plastic debris were similar, the study identified challenges with nylon netting fragments, including lower oil yield and difficulty with ignition, which may necessitate further technological development to enable effective conversion, such as zeolite catalyst pyrolysis. The study suggests that converting marine plastic debris into useful fuel could provide a sustainable waste-management solution and add value to it for small-scale fishing communities. However, further optimization of the process is required to maximize efficiency and mitigate environmental impacts.

2025-12-01T00:00:00Z