The SEAFDEC Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD) has achieved a major milestone in regional marine conservation. On September 29, 2026, the 7th Japan Sustainable Seafood Award (JSSA 2026) announced that SEAFDEC/TD’s project, “Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Enhancing National Capacities to Eliminate IUU Fishing in Southeast Asia,” has been selected as a finalist for this prestigious award. For more information, please visit https://sustainableseafoodnow.com/2026/en/award/
Organized as part of the Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit (TSSS 2026), the annual award honors initiatives that actively transform the seafood sector by promoting sustainable practices, effective resource management, and marine ecosystem conservation across Asia.
This year’s edition marks a historic shift for the Japan Sustainable Seafood Award with the introduction of its brand-new Asia Category. Designed to elevate impactful projects across Asian waters outside of Japan, the category requires independent, third-party nominations and undergoes rigorous evaluation by an international Selection Committee.
SEAFDEC/TD’s advancement to the final list underscores the department’s decades-long commitment to combat IUU fishing and delivering crucial capacity-building for sustainable fisheries management across Southeast Asian fishing communities. Being recognized among the top initiatives across Asia reflects SEAFDEC/TD’s continued dedication to balancing marine ecosystem protection with the livelihoods of regional fishing communities. This milestone reinforces our mission to drive positive, long-term change throughout the Southeast Asian seafood supply chain.
As a shortlisted finalist, representatives from SEAFDEC/TD will travel to Tokyo, Japan, to present their initiative live at the Sustainable Seafood Summit 2026 (TSSS 2026). The category Champions will be announced during the official JSSA 2026 Award Ceremony on 21 October 2026. Award winners will be featured in the Seafood Legacy Times and granted the official JSSA Champion seal to further amplify their sustainable fisheries advocacy globally.
JSSA launched in 2019 by Seafood Legacy Co., Ltd., the Japan Sustainable Seafood Award (JSSA) celebrates groundbreaking projects that accelerate the sustainable seafood movement. In 2026, the awards expanded to encompass regional initiatives through its new Asia Category.
