On 15 January 2026, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD), in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Thailand (DOF), officially launched the activity entitled “Pilot Testing of Gear Marking in Support of Sustainable Fisheries Management and ALDFG Reduction in Chumphon Province, Thailand.” The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Koichi Tahara, Deputy Secretary-General and Deputy Chief of SEAFDEC, Training Department.
The activity is implemented under the project “Regional Collaborative Research and Capacity Building for Monitoring and Reduction of Marine Debris from Fisheries in Southeast Asia,” with financial support from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). The opening ceremony was graciously hosted by Ms. Jinda Phetkamnert, Director of the Chumphon Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center, Department of Fisheries, Thailand.
The pilot testing is jointly conducted by technical staff from SEAFDEC/TD and officers from the Chumphon Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center and is scheduled from 15 to 16 January 2026. The primary objective of the activity is to evaluate the suitability, durability, and practicality of different fishing gear marking materials and methods for collapsible crab traps and gill nets commonly used in small-scale fisheries in Thailand.
A total of 40 small-scale fishers participated in the activity, comprising 20 fishers using collapsible crab traps and 20 fishers operating crab gillnets. During the activity, participating fishers were provided with awareness-raising sessions on the environmental, economic, and operational impacts of Abandoned, Lost, or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG). They were also introduced to the concept, rationale, and importance of fishing gear marking as an effective preventive measure to reduce gear loss and facilitate responsible fisheries management.
This pilot initiative aims to support sustainable fisheries management by testing practical gear marking solutions under real fishing conditions while promoting active participation and ownership among local fishing communities in Chumphon Province. The outcomes of this activity are expected to contribute valuable technical insights and practical recommendations for the wider adoption of fishing gear marking as part of national and regional strategies to prevent and reduce ALDFG in Southeast Asia.
