SEAFDEC Newsletter Vol.47 No.1

Abstract

In the first quarter of 2024, SEAFDEC organized various events toward the aims of sustainable utilization and sound management of fishery resources in Southeast Asia including the “USAID Southeast Asia Fisheries Partnership: Activity Detailed Planning Workshop” which focused on the five-year plan for the Project activities including crosscutting activities; the “Workshop on the Project End of Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Enhancing National Capacities to Eliminate IUU Fishing in Southeast Asia” that identified and prioritized ways forward to combat IUU fishing in the region; and the “2nd Workshop on the Innovation of Fisheries Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) Analytics, and Utilization for Fisheries Analyst” for the enhancement of onboard observation, vulnerable marine ecosystems, electronic monitoring program, vessels monitoring system program, and MCS innovation technology. Moreover, the Inception Workshop was also organized at the initial stage of the BOBLME Project Phase II (Component 1: Sustainable Management of Fisheries) to introduce institutionalization of EAFM at the national level in Thailand.

SEAFDEC continued to conduct several training courses, including a training course on aquaculture technologies for the culture of shrimp, marine fish, mangrove crab, giant freshwater prawns, and seaweed, as well as training on an innovative feeding strategy for sea cucumber. In addition, to enhance staff capacity, TD organized a Training and Field Practice on Socioeconomic Monitoring (SocMon) for Coastal and Small-scale Fisheries Management in Southeast Asia. This Training strengthened the capacity of TD researchers in monitoring and assessment, focusing on the socioeconomic context by using the SocMon methodology to support small-scale fisheries management.

Other important activities in this quarter included courtesy visits of SEAFDEC to the Department of Livestock and Fisheries of Lao PDR and the Department of Fisheries Malaysia. These visits aimed to enhance cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture development and management, as well as to discuss ongoing regional initiatives and upcoming projects and activities. A change in the management of MFRD also took place with the appointment of Mr. Tan Yit Wee as the new Chief of MFRD starting 1 April 2024.