The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), through its Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD), continues to strengthen sustainable small-scale fisheries management by promoting the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM), participatory governance, and co-management approaches that can generate practical lessons for application in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries.
Under the Japanese Trust Fund-supported project, “Improving Fishers’ Livelihood and Fisheries Co-Management in Inland and Coastal Small-Scale Fisheries,” SEAFDEC/TD works with national and local partners to translate fisheries management concepts into practical approaches at selected pilot areas. Experiences and lessons generated through these activities are intended to support capacity development and provide practical references for strengthening small-scale fisheries management at the national and regional levels.
In Thailand, Bangsaphan District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, serves as one of the pilot areas for demonstrating how EAFM and co-management can be put into practice through collaboration among government agencies, fishing communities, local authorities, and the private sector.
As part of this process, SEAFDEC/TD, in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries (DOF), Thailand, convened a Multi-Stakeholder Dissemination Workshop on Implementing the EAFM Plan in Bangsaphan District on 9 September 2026 at the Bangsaphan District Office. The workshop brought together 29 stakeholders, comprising 16 men and 13 women, representing government agencies, local administrative organizations, the Bangsaphan Fisheries Network, fisheries associations, national park authorities, and private-sector partners, including Sahaviriya Steel Industries and Prachuap Port.
The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to develop a common understanding of the EAFM Plan, including its key priorities, proposed management actions, and implementation arrangements. Through dialogue and exchange of experiences, participants explored opportunities to align their ongoing and planned activities with the EAFM Plan and contribute to its implementation.
Building on the workshop, SEAFDEC/TD continued its engagement with local stakeholders through a local action-planning meeting on 10 September 2026, involving the DOF, the Bangsaphan Fisheries Network, and key private-sector stakeholders. A total of 31 participants, comprising 27 men and 4 women, participated in the meeting. The meeting focused on translating the EAFM Plan into practical implementation by developing an EAFM implementation action plan, reviewing potential collaborative activities, and identifying and prioritizing key actions.
The two-day engagement demonstrates how EAFM can be translated from planning into coordinated action through multi-stakeholder participation and partnerships. The experience from Bangsaphan will contribute practical lessons on participatory fisheries governance, community-based fisheries management, and co-management that can inform similar efforts in other areas.
Through this and other pilot activities, SEAFDEC will continue to facilitate regional learning, capacity development, and exchange of practical experiences among Member Countries, with the broader aim of advancing sustainable fisheries, strengthening the resilience of small-scale fishing communities, and improving livelihoods across Southeast Asia.
