http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7693 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:12:50 GMT 2026-10-08T19:12:50Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7691 Fish for the People Vol. 24 No. 2 Gender integration is vital in achieving sustainable fisheries and resilient aquaculture systems in Southeast Asia, where women compose nearly half of the small-scale workforce but remain underrepresented. While national strategies are committed to inclusive governance, entrenched social norms, gaps in policy implementation, and a lack of sex-disaggregated data persist. Ultimately, integrating gender across the fisheries value chain is a strategic requirement to enhance community welfare and promote food security in the region. Policy alignment, gender equality, and regional cooperation are essential for achieving sustainable small-scale fisheries in Southeast Asia and South Asia. One such important tool is the FAO’s Small-scale Fisheries Guidelines, which have been instrumental in raising awareness and fostering a fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable sector. Integrating these principles into national laws and policies has broadened support for community-based management. Sustaining inland fisheries in Southeast Asia requires moving beyond top-down regulations toward adaptive governance. The Special Area for Conservation and Fish Refugia (SPEECTRA) model provides a practical framework for this shift, demonstrating that successful resource management depends on flexible, ecosystem-based principles rather than rigid templates, offering a valuable blueprint for regional fisheries cooperation. Managing multispecies fisheries, in this case the Gulf of Thailand, requires moving beyond single-species frameworks. The GoTFish mechanism shows that transboundary governance can succeed, offering a scalable roadmap for regional organizations to build trust, strengthen ecological resilience, and improve fisheries-dependent livelihoods. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7691 2026-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7690 Advancing Gender Mainstreaming for Sustainable Fisheries: Insights from Southeast Asia Sornkliang, Jariya; Suasi, Thanyalak; Tiaye, Rattana Gender integration is essential for achieving sustainable fisheries in Southeast Asia, where women play crucial yet underrecognized roles across the fisheries value chain. This article explores the region’s progress and persistent challenges in mainstreaming gender, in alignment with global frameworks such as the SSF Guidelines and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It underscores the pivotal contribution of regional institutions, notably SEAFDEC, in driving gender-responsive actions through training, research, and tool development. National examples, including women’s entrepreneurship in Thailand and leadership initiatives in Vietnam, demonstrate tangible benefits of inclusive approaches. However, critical gaps remain, such as weak policy implementation, entrenched cultural norms, and limited sex-disaggregated data. The article concludes that advancing gender equity in fisheries requires continuous institutional strengthening, improved data systems, and enhanced regional cooperation to empower women as central actors in fostering social justice and ecological resilience within Southeast Asia’s fisheries sector. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7690 2026-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7689 Evaluating the Implementation and Impact of FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in Southeast Asia and South Asia: Challenges, Progress, and Pathways Forward Tiaye, Rattana; Suasi, Thanyalak; Sornkliang, Jariya Small-scale fisheries is vital to Asia, providing livelihoods for over 46 million people and contributing nearly half of the region’s capture fisheries production (FAO, 2025). Beyond their economic value, small-scale fisheries support food security, nutrition, cultural identity, and social cohesion, especially in coastal and inland communities where alternative livelihoods are limited. Recognizing both their contributions and vulnerabilities, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) endorsed the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines) in 2014, the first global instrument dedicated to small-scale fisheries. The Guidelines focus on fairness, making sure fishers have secure livelihoods, equitable access to resources, gender equality, and social inclusion (FAO, 2015a). The SSF Guidelines provide practical guidance for governments, civil society, and fishing communities, influencing policies, legal reforms, and capacity-building efforts (FAO, 2015a). Although voluntary, they are increasingly seen as a moral and political commitment in the face of climate change and socioeconomic challenges (Jentoft, 2017). In Southeast Asia, organizations like the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and the ASEAN’s Sectoral Working Group on Fisheries (ASWGFi) have helped countries integrate small-scale fisheries principles through regional platforms, co-management pilots, and gender mainstreaming efforts. Countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines have embedded these principles in their national strategies. Notably, in 2024, the Philippines became the first country in Asia to adopt a formal National Plan of Action for Small-scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF) (FAO, 2024). In South Asia, countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have revised policies and legal frameworks to align with the SSF Guidelines, focusing on tenure rights, ecosystem-based management, and supporting vulnerable groups. However, they face challenges including weak enforcement, policy fragmentation, and limited investment in small-scale fisheries-specific programs. Despite progress, these constraints highlight the need for more integrated and well-supported implementation. To mark the 10th anniversary of the SSF Guidelines, a Regional Small-scale Fisheries Workshop was held in March 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. Co-organized by the FAO and SEAFDEC, the event brought together representatives from 13 countries, regional partners, and civil society organizations. The workshop aimed to assess implementation progress, identify challenges and good practices, and chart a course for the future. It emphasized the importance of regional collaboration, policy alignment, and stakeholder engagement to ensure that small-scale fisheries communities in Asia can thrive sustainably over the next decade. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7689 2026-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7688 SPEECTRA: Linking Inland Fisheries Conservation and Regional Learning in Southeast Asia Prayoga, Muhammad Putra; Muthmainnah, Dina; Sawestri, Sevi; Rais, Aroef Hukmanan; Supriyadi, Freddy; Rimapradesi, Yulia; Shimoda, Toru Inland fisheries play an important role in supporting food security, nutrition, and livelihoods in Southeast Asia. However, these fisheries are increasingly affected by habitat degradation, climate variability, hydrological changes, and growing pressure on aquatic ecosystems. This article discusses the Special Area for Conservation and Fish Refugia, known as the SPEECTRA Model, as a practical conservation approach developed from local experience in swamp and floodplain ecosystems in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Implemented at Patra Tani in Muara Enim, SPEECTRA combines fish refugia, habitat protection, ecological monitoring, education, and community learning. Experience from the pilot site shows that conservation areas can function not only as protected habitats, but also as learning platforms for research, capacity building, and public awareness. The model highlights the importance of adapting conservation design to local ecological conditions, governance systems, and community needs. SPEECTRA offers useful lessons for strengthening sustainable inland fisheries management and regional cooperation in Southeast Asia. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/7688 2026-10-01T00:00:00Z