The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) convened the 2nd Selection Committee Meeting for the Recipient Member Country of M.V. SEAFDEC virtually on 30 September 2026. The meeting was attended by SEAFDEC National Coordinators and representatives serving as members of the Selection Committee from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, together with the SEAFDEC Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, and senior officials from the SEAFDEC Secretariat and Training Department.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Pitchaya Chainark, Chairperson of the Selection Committee and SEAFDEC National Coordinator for Thailand, highlighted the objectives of the meeting, including reviewing the evaluation scores, discussing the selection procedure and evaluation process, and reaching agreement on the preliminary results and way forward. She emphasized the importance of ensuring fairness, transparency, and consistency in applying the agreed evaluation criteria. She also noted that the Committee’s recommendation would be reported to the 49th SEAFDEC Program Committee Meeting in November 2026.
During the meeting, the Selection Committee reviewed and discussed the scoring and evaluation results submitted by the Member Countries for the applications received. The discussion focused on the agreed evaluation criteria, including institutional capacity, technical and operational readiness, utilization plans, commitment and sustainability, and regional cooperation. The Committee also exchanged views on matters related to the selection procedure and evaluation process to ensure a consistent and transparent assessment of the applications.
The meeting concluded with discussions on the preliminary selection results and the way forward. The Committee’s recommendation will be reported to the 49th SEAFDEC Program Committee Meeting, scheduled for 14–16 November 2026, and subsequently submitted to the SEAFDEC Council for consideration and approval. Following approval by the Council, the process will proceed to the Handover Committee, with the transfer of M.V. SEAFDEC to the selected Recipient Member Country targeted for 2027.
In the closing session, Mr. Ryota Maromo, representative of the Vice-Chairperson of the Selection Committee, expressed his appreciation to the Chairperson, Selection Committee Members, and SEAFDEC for their valuable contributions to the meeting. He highlighted the productive discussions on the evaluation of the applications and noted the Committee’s common understanding of the preliminary selection results and the next steps in the selection process.
