SEAFDEC Training Department has implemented the project on responsible fishing technologies and practices in collaboration with Southeast Asian countries based upon the project formulation prescribed by the Resolution and Plan of Action endorsed at the Millennium Conference in 2001 and also the regional program planning meeting in 2005 for the Special 5-year Program on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security in the ASEAN Region (2006-2010).

The activities on the development and experiment on Juvenile and Trash Excluder Devices (JTEDs) have been conducted in the Asian region with the support of Japanese Trust Fund in conjunction with the additional support of FAO/UNEP/GEF Project on Reduction of Environmental Impact from Tropical Shrimp Trawling through the Introduction of bycatch reduction technologies and change of the management. Through those activities, JTEDs have been recognized in the region as effective devices for reduction of commercial species caught by the shrimp trawl. As a result, various countries have already adopted the compulsory use of JTEDs in trawl fishing.

The research and study on the impact of fishing on environment and ecosystem have been conducted in the region, such as in cooperation with the Department of Fisheries - Thailand, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Philippines with the support of Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology – Japan, and Kasetsart University - Thailand.

The interaction between threatened species of international concerned and fisheries has also been studied and investigated, whose focus is particularly given to the effectiveness on the use of the turtle excuser devices (TEDs) in reducing sea turtle mortality. Besides, the information and data on the sea turtles mortality has been collected in the region in collaboration with member countries of SEAFDEC and with the assistance of countries of IOSEA/MOU. SEAFDEC has made a great effort and contribution to many international meetings and conferences through the presentation of its achievement during the course of promotion on the use of TEDs and circle hooks.

Another work is the compilation on fishing gear and methods in Southeast Asia. The survey for this purpose was conducted in most of the member countries. It was found that fishing gear monographs of SEAFDEC has been widely used as the reference for handbooks of fishers and gear technologists.

          1. Promote responsible fishing technologies and practices through sea trial demonstration, series of experiments;

          2. Promote concept and applicability of using selective fishing gear devices to reduce bycatch (juvenile, sea turtles, trash fish, etc) in fishing.

          3. Explore  way to improve responsible fishing technology and practices for the Southeast Asian Countries
          

Activity 1 Technical assistance of selective fishing gears and devices for reduce discards and by catch of juvenile and trash in the region

SEAFDEC continues to promote the implementation of the selective fishing devices in the region in close collaboration with its member countries. It includes Juveniles and Trash Excluder Devices (JTEDs) for reduction of discard and bycatch in trawl fisheries and other selective devices and technology. In addition, SEAFDEC will coordinate with GEF/UNEP/FAO bycatch project phase II (to be implemented from 2011 to 2014) for assist member countries in terms of technical inputs and assistance. It is proposed that SEAFDEC will also expand the study of the development to other fishing gear such as traps and other fishing gear/practices.

Activity 2 Technical Assistance of the assessment of the impacts of various kinds of fishing gear and practice on fisheries resources, seabeds, environment and ecosystem

Nowadays, light fishery for squids and anchovies capture is developed and its catch efficiency has been improved. In 2011, SEAFDEC will conduct further research based on the technical review made during the previous years on squid and anchovy fishing by starting up with some experiments and at-sea trial. It is envisaged that the activity can obtain some preliminary results that criteria for the use of light intensity and color will be further discussed among the gear technologist for further follow up actions.

Activity 3 Interaction between threatened species of international concern and fisheries

This refers to incidental catch of threatened species such as sea turtles, dolphins and other species which have the potential to be included in the list of CITES, Appendix 1 and 2 in fishing operations. There is still insufficient information, in particular on the current status of sea turtles and factors affecting the mortality of sea turtles.  Therefore, activities on collection of information of sea turtle mortality should be continually conducted in close cooperation with member countries and other relevant agencies namely IOSEA-Turtle MOU, Department of Coastal and Marine Resources, etc.

Activity 4 Production of promotion materials and technical papers

The dissemination of information collected by the project activities will be conducted through SEAFDEC’s participation in regional and international meetings/workshops. TD will also work in cooperation and support of FAO on Global Fishing Gear Classification Catalogue. The promotion materials and technical papers will be produced and disseminated.  They will also be disseminated through relevant meetings/workshops, training courses and exhibitions.

No	Title	Year	Download
1	Report on Study the Impact of Light Fishing to Fisheries Resource and Environment in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries of Indonesia	2011	495 KB.
2	Report on The Regional Workshop on Discards and By-catch Management	2010	291 KB.
3	Strategies for trawl fisheries bycatch management (REBYC-II CTI)	2010	1.09 MB.
4	Report of the FAO/GEF Inception Workshop on Bycatch Management and Reduction of Discards in Trawl Fisheries	2009	294 KB.
5	Report of The Regional Workshop on the Reduction of the Impacts of Fishing on Coastal and Marine Environments in the Southeast Asian Waters	2009	239 KB.