The Training Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC/TD), in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through the Blue Fair Fish Project, organized the “Practical Workshop on Strengthening Control Activities for Effective Combating of IUU Fishing in Southeast Asia” from 27 to 29 October 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. The Workshop listed 35 registered participants from nine ASEAN Member States, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Timor-Leste, as well as representatives from the SEAFDEC Secretariat, GIZ, the Regional Fisheries Policy Network (RFPN), the Department of Fisheries, Thailand, and SEAFDEC/TD.
The three-day Workshop aimed to strengthen regional capacities in implementing effective control measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It provided a platform for participants to review international legal instruments and national regulations, exchange experiences on fisheries control activities, and discuss practical challenges in strengthening the Control component of Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS). The program also included a field visit to the Port-In Port-Out (PIPO) Control Center in Samut Sakhon Province to observe Thailand’s fisheries control practices.
Through country presentations, knowledge sharing, and discussions, the Workshop sought to identify common challenges and practical solutions for improving fisheries control activities at sea and in ports. The Workshop is expected to enhance regional cooperation, strengthen fisheries law enforcement, and support sustainable fisheries management in Southeast Asia.
