The SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD) organized “Online Regional Training Course on Implementation of Port State Measures for Inspection” from 26 to 29 October 2021 in collaboration with partners, namely the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Department of Fisheries of Thailand (DOF Thailand). The Training aims to 1) update the status and the implementation of the PSMA, 2) build up the understanding and capacity of the participants on the PSM, and 3) enhance knowledge, skills, and experience of the participants on inspection to support the PSM and port control implementation. There were 44 participants (6 female and 38 male) from AMSs who have been engaged in the implementation of the PSM and/or port control activities at the inspection level. Moreover, it is also expected that the participants should have potential to serve as trainer for PSM inspection in their respective country in the future attended in this training. The expected outputs from this Training included understanding on the status and the implementation of the PSMA; increasing knowledge, skills, and experience of participants on inspection to support Port State Measures and port control implementation; and further strengthening of regional cooperation to support the implementation of PSM in Southeast Asia.

The SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD) in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) organized “The Online Training on Implementing Adaptive Fisheries Management and the Use of FishPath Decision Support Tool” from 5 to 8 October 2021 via Google Meet platform. The training aimed to build capacity on implementing adaptive fisheries management and the use of FishPath decision support tool. There were 25 participants (13 females and 12 males) who are the officers related to fishery management and/or Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) from ASEAN Member States (AMSs) namely: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand including observers from SEAFDEC/TD. At the end, the participants were expected better understand on implementing adaptive fisheries management and the use of FishPath decision support tool.

The SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD) in collaboration with the Rayong Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center (EMDEC), the Department of Fisheries (DOF), Thailand conducted “The Training on Gender Analysis and Questionnaire Development” from 12 to 13 October 2021, aims to build up capacity and understand on gender integration in fisheries and questionnaire’s design for gender integration for 10 EMDEC officers (6 females and 4 males).  

Moreover, a study on gender integration in fisheries management at Kaoyod Fisher’s group, Rayong Province, Thailand was conducted from 14 to 22 October 2021. The study aims to understand the roles of women and men in fisheries, fisher’s group, and identify the key success of the fisheries management project implementation. The data collection, data analysis, and data validation were conducted. There were 43 respondents (26 females and 17 males) who provided information about fishing and Kaoyod small-scale fisher’s group activities. The results of the study data were reported to 77 participants (45 females and 32 males) composed of local community, DOF officers, and SEAFDEC/TD staff. The study found that the roles of women and men in fisher’s group are clear and equal on the domestic role, while capture fisheries roles are conducted by men, roles in fish selling are women. They assist each other in a group activity as their expertise. The key success of the group management is high-level participation and being a strong leader of the group. 

The Stakeholders Consultation Meeting on “An Assessment of the Sustainability of Currently Used Fishing Technologies and Operations in Thailand and Options for Innovation and Improvements” was organized on 4 October 2021 in Rayong Province, Thailand by the SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD) in cooperation with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The aim is to gather the views of the relevant fisheries stakeholders on fisheries innovations and fishing technology. There were 50 relevant stakeholders (37 males and 13 females) participated in this Meeting. The report on assessment of the sustainability of currently used fishing technologies and operations in Thailand and options for innovation and improvements is the result of this Meeting.

This Meeting is an activity under the FAO Multi-Disciplinary Fund (MDF) project “Financing innovation for sustainable fisheries with the private sector” which outcome to support investment and finance decision-making process to support fisheries innovation towards sustainability.