SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD) conducted the “EAFM Start-up Workshop for the Fisheries Management Unit (FMU)” from 2 to 3 April 2025 in Koh Panyee, Phang Nga Province, Thailand. Building on the outputs of the 2024 Phuket meeting, this workshop marked a pivotal step toward advancing sustainable fisheries management in Thailand. Koh Panyee, household to 1,500 residents primarily reliant on fishing, faces challenges such as declining fish populations and environmental pressures. In response, the workshop brought together 21 participants (6 females and 15 males), including fisheries officers and local stakeholders, to collaboratively define the fisheries management unit (FMU) scope and identify key stakeholders.
In addition, the workshop established processes for gathering and analyzing baseline data, essential for informed decision-making in the upcoming EAFM planning session scheduled for July 2025. This collaborative effort positions Koh Panyee as a learning site for the EAFM Component under the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project Phase II (BOBLME II) Project. By leveraging local insights and scientific data, the initiative aims to strengthen sustainable fisheries practices and community-based resource management, establishing Koh Panyee as a model for effective marine conservation efforts.
