The Training Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC/TD) organized the Inception Workshop on Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Institutionalization at the National Level of Malaysia, including Target Transboundary Fish Stocks, on 4–5 August 2026 in Penang, Malaysia. The workshop brought together 17 participants (9 women and 8 men) from the Department of Fisheries Malaysia, representatives of the EAFM pilot sites in Perak and Langkawi, and SEAFDEC/TD. It aimed to initiate EAFM implementation in Malaysia through consultation with key stakeholders and to strengthen the institutionalization of EAFM at the national level.
During the workshop, participants were introduced to the EAFM concept, gender inclusion, the BOBLME II Project, and the proposed Fisheries Management Units (FMUs) in Perak and Langkawi. They reviewed the current status of EAFM implementation and capacity-building needs, identified key implementation arrangements and stakeholders, and developed a preliminary work plan for the Essential EAFM (E-EAFM) and Training of Trainers (ToT) E-EAFM courses. The workshop strengthened coordination among SEAFDEC and national stakeholders and established a foundation for advancing EAFM implementation in Malaysia.
These activities were conducted under the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystems Phase II (BOBLME II) project, implemented by FAO and executed by IUCN, BOBP-IGO and SEAFDEC, funded by GEF and Norad.
