On 15 January 2026, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD), in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Thailand (DOF), officially launched the activity entitled “Pilot Testing of Gear Marking in Support of Sustainable Fisheries Management and ALDFG Reduction in Chumphon Province, Thailand.” The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Koichi Tahara, Deputy Secretary-General and Deputy Chief of SEAFDEC, Training Department. The activity is implemented under the project “Regional Collaborative Research and Capacity Building for Monitoring and Reduction of Marine Debris from Fisheries in Southeast Asia,” with financial support from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). The opening...

Mr. Kongpathai Saraphaivanich, the Training and Research Supporting Division Head of the SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD), participated in the IMCS Network General Membership Meeting held virtually on 13 January 2026. The meeting provided a vital platform for members to reconnect, exchange innovative ideas, and collaborate on the Network’s future strategic direction. Key highlights included progress updates on major work streams and discussions on strengthening governance to ensure the Network’s continued growth and operational effectiveness. SEAFDEC officially joined the International Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (IMCS) Network in early 2023, a milestone formally recognized during the 55th Meeting of the SEAFDEC Council...

Two staff members from the Marine Engineering Section of the SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD), Mr. Thaweesak Thimkrap and Mr. Khunthawat Manomayidthikarn, participated in a study visit to Malaysia and Indonesia on fishing port standard and fishing port Management (Waste and Pollution Management) from 12 to 16 January 2026. They were accompanied by Dr. Sutak Jirarattanawong, Deputy Executive Director for Fisheries Business Development (FMO), and Ms. Roongnapa Wongwaipairote, Head of the Establishment Inspection Group (Department of Fisheries). The objectives are to conduct a study visit and observe best practice standards for waste and pollution management at fishing ports, both LKIM...

The SEAFDEC Training Department (TD) joined Thailand at its 2026 celebration of the National Children’s Day on 10 January at the Fort Phra Chulachomklao at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. TD put on displayed information and game under the theme of fishery resources conservation. Several groups of children, guided by their chaperons, were attracted to the TD activities. The National Children’s Day in Thailand is traditionally organized on the second Saturday of the year. It largely receives widespread attention to the public, mostly government organizations, especially the Prime Minister, and military that staged their impressive shows for the...

To mark the 58th anniversary of its establishment on 28 December 2025, The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) organized a celebration on 26 December 2025 at SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD). All SEAFDEC staff, experts, and project personnel from the Secretariat and TD participated in this ceremony. The event featured a traditional merit-making ceremony, including an alms-offering of dried food to Buddhist monks and the offering of a midday meal. On this special occasion, SEAFDEC also warmly welcomed distinguished guests who arrived to offer their congratulations and well wishes. Photo Activities

The SEAFDEC Training Department (TD) convened its Quarterly Meetings on 24 December 2025 and 6 January 2026 to review the implementation of projects endorsed at the 48th SEAFDEC Program Committee Meeting (2–4 December 2024). A total of 23 projects and programs are currently under implementation by TD, with the meetings attended by 38 TD staff (17 female and 21 male), including Division Heads, Senior Researchers, Section Heads, and officers from the Research and Development Division (RDD), Training and Research Supporting Division (TRSD), and Project Planning and Management Division (PPMD). Organized by PPMD, the meetings aimed to strengthen monitoring, evaluation,...

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD), in collaboration with the Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DLF) of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), conducted a study on “Thai River Sprat Supply Chain in the Ngum Reservoir, Keo Oudom District, Vientiane Province.” The study was implemented from 15 to 19 December 2025 with support from the Japanese Trust Fund. The objective of the study was to comprehensively analyze the supply chain of Thai River Sprat harvested from the Nam Ngum Reservoir by systematically mapping key actors and examining the interactions and relationships among stakeholders at different...

SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD) organized “The 2nd Regional Training Course on the Liable Research Methods to Collect and Analyze the Marine Debris and Microplastic” from 15 to 22 December 2025 at SEAFDEC/TD, Samut Prakan, Thailand. There were 25 participants (Female 10 and Male 15) from SEAFDEC Member Countries, SEAFDEC Secretariat, SEAFDEC IFRDMD, MFRDMD, TD, and university students’ internship who attended the training. The major envisaged output is to enhance human resources capacity on sampling and analysis of marine debris and microplastics both lecture and practical and also strengthen cooperation among SEAFDEC Member Countries researchers on marine debris and microplastics...

Four SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD) staff who are responsible in combating IUU fishing activities conducted the study of traceability tools functionality to align with the market in Yangon, Myanmar from 15 to 19 December 2025. The main objective of this mission was to conduct a baseline study to improve functionality of traceability systems within Myanmar.  To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the local landscape, the SEAFDEC/TD team utilized in-depth interviews and group discussions with staff of the Department of Fisheries, Myanmar, including relevant stakeholders from fishing ports and processing plants. These sessions focused on identifying the technical development needs...

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD), in collaboration with Satun Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center, conducted a fishery resource survey in Rawai Community, Khon Khlan Sub-district, Thung Wa District, Satun Province, on 28–29 October, 10–11 November, and 11–12 December 2025 as part of the BOBLME Phase II Project (Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project). Fishery officers worked with local fishers to collect data from five main types of fishing gear, namely crab gillnets (19 samplings), crab traps (15 samplings), fish gillnets (7 samplings), shrimp trammel nets (6 samplings), and squid traps (5 samplings), totaling...