The SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD), led by Dr. Suttinee Limthammahisorn, Secretary-General and Chief of the Training Department, gives a warm welcome to Mr. Toru Kajiwara, Minister and Chief of Economic Division at Embassy of Japan in Thailand, Mr. Choltisak Chawpaknum, Director of Fisheries Foreign Affairs Division, Department of Fisheries and SEAFDEC National Coordinator for Thailand including their colleagues to participate in the event of “Departure Ceremony of M.V. SEAFDEC 2 for the Research Survey in the Waters Off the West Coast Waters of Peninsular Malaysia” on 2 September 2025 at SEAFDEC/TD’s pier, Samut Prakan, Thailand.
SEAFDEC/TD in collaboration with SEAFDEC Marine Fisheries Development and Management Department (SEAFDEC/MFRDMD) and the Department of Fisheries, Malaysia conducts the research survey on the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia Waters using the M.V. SEAFDEC 2 from 2 to 27 September 2025 serves as a pilot initiative to demonstrate the practical application of the biological approach that integrates fisheries hydroacoustic science to enhance the quality of assessment parameters. In a fishery hydroacoustic survey, a fish finder emits ultrasonic waves into the water and analyzes echoes reflected from fish schools to measure their location and estimate biomass for target species. The results of the research will contribute to the sustainable use of fisheries stocks in the ASEAN region.
With support from the Japanese Trust Fund (JTF) since 2016, SEAFDEC has worked to promote sustainable marine resource management by introducing a statistical approach for stock assessment. The model has proven useful, but its application has been limited in some SEAFDEC Member Countries. This is often due to varying levels of statistical capacity and the lack of long-term data series. To address these challenges, JTF Phase 7 (2025–2029) is now supporting the development of a complementary, biological information-based model. This new approach will enhance the quality of assessment parameters and provide an alternative or supplementary tool that is more adaptable to the diverse data environments found throughout the region.
The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) is a regional intergovernmental organization established in 1967. Dedicated to sustainable fisheries development in Southeast Asia, SEAFDEC supports its 11 Member Countries—the 10 ASEAN Member States plus Japan—by conducting research, training, and information dissemination to enhance fisheries management and promote responsible fishing practices. SEAFDEC has a research vessel, namely “M.V. SEAFDEC 2. She is a 211 GT steel trawler, was constructed with financial support from the Government of Japan, and officially launched in Niigata, Japan, on 6 December 2003. The vessel has been deployed for numerous activities, including training cruises and scientific research missions, over the years.
