Introduction

According to an FAO report, global marine fishery production has diminished, with Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing identified as a pivotal contributing factor. IUU fishing constitutes a significant international issue, adversely impacting fisheries within national jurisdictions and on the high seas. This illicit practice undermines sustainable fisheries management by circumventing legal frameworks, leading to the depletion of fish stocks and impeding sustainability efforts. Southeast Asian countries are encountering increasing pressure on their fisheries resources due to IUU fishing, often linked to inadequate management of monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS). These nations must prioritize preventive measures such as regulating fishing vessels, addressing overcapacity, and implementing effective rightsbased fisheries systems. IUU fishing undermines national and regional conservation efforts, placing responsible fishers at a considerable disadvantage and necessitating urgent, transparent action.

In response, SEAFDEC, along with the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), will be executing the Sustainable Management of Fisheries, Marine Living Resources, and Their Habitats in the Bay of Bengal Region for the Benefit of the Coastal States and Communities (BOBLME II) project, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO) under the Global Environment Facility (GEF), in seven countries, namely Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Objectives

Expected Outputs