The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD), is strengthening regional capacity for the application of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) through the Essential Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (E-EAFM) Training Course, held from 21 to 25 September 2026 in Penang, Malaysia.
The five-day training forms part of SEAFDEC’s continuing efforts to promote ecosystem-based and participatory approaches to sustainable fisheries management in Southeast Asia. It aims to strengthen participants’ understanding of EAFM and enhance their practical capacity to develop, implement, monitor, and adapt fisheries management plans that consider ecological, social, and governance dimensions.
The training brings together 31 participants (13 women and 18 men), comprising officers from the Department of Fisheries Malaysia, fisheries officers from the EAFM pilot sites in Perak and Kedah, and SEAFDEC/TD personnel. The participation of officers directly involved in the pilot sites provides an important opportunity to connect EAFM concepts with practical fisheries management needs and local conditions.
Throughout the course, participants are strengthening their knowledge of EAFM concepts and principles, co-management, adaptive management, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sectoral coordination. Through participatory exercises, group discussions, and practical planning sessions, participants apply the EAFM planning process to fisheries management situations and develop draft EAFM plans relevant to their respective areas.
Following the E-EAFM course, selected participants will proceed to the Training of Trainers for E-EAFM (TOT E-EAFM). The TOT will further develop their capacity to serve as EAFM trainers and resource persons, contributing to the wider application of EAFM and supporting implementation in designated learning sites in Malaysia. This step also contributes to building a stronger pool of national expertise that can sustain and expand EAFM capacity development over time.
Through these capacity-building efforts, SEAFDEC/TD continues to support the application of integrated, participatory, and science-based approaches to fisheries management, contributing to the sustainable use of fishery resources and resilient fisheries communities in Southeast Asia.
These activities were conducted under the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystems Phase II (BOBLME II) project, implemented by FAO and executed by IUCN, BOBP-IGO and SEAFDEC, funded by GEF and Norad.
