SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD) organized the “Regional Training Course on Enhancing Capacity for Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) of Domestic and International Fishing Vessels to Combat IUU Fishing” from 19 to 22 November 2024, at SEAFDEC/TD, Sumut Prakan Province, Thailand. This Training is an activity under the “Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project Phase II (BOBLME II)” which aimed to enhance the knowledge of fisheries officers on the following by lesson learned on the reforms and amendments to fisheries laws in compliance with support with MCS implementation activities including building up knowledge on implementation of MCS activities for domestic and foreign fishing vessels for combating IUU Fishing. Totally 19 participants who engage to MCS implementation activities from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand attended the training. The Training also had study visit to Port In-Port Out procedures in Samut Sakhon Province, and the operation of the Fisheries Monitoring Center (FMC) to combat IUU fishing. In the end, the participants were expected to understand how changes in fisheries legislation have impacted the implementation of MCS activities and enhanced capacity to implement effective MCS measures on both domestic and foreign fishing vessels, leading to reduced IUU fishing activities and improved fisheries management within participating countries.
Moreover, on 20 November 2024, SEAFDEC/TD in collaboration with The Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO) organized “Side Event on Participatory Risk Assessment of IUU Fishing”. The side event was participated by participants from MCS Training, representatives from SEAFDEC/TD, BOBP-IGO, FAO and IUCN. The discussion topics were as follows data validation, risk assessment, national update to curb IUU fishing. Otherwise, a structure for BOBLME Regional Working Group on IUU Fishing to strengthen monitor progress in implementation of NPOA and RPOA-IUU, plan and support capacity building activities and improve country-to-country collaboration were proposed and discussed.
