The SEAFDEC Training Department, in collaboration with the Government of Canada, organized the Workshop on Strengthening Regional Fisheries Governance and Technology Integration to Combat IUU Fishing in the Indo-Pacific from 17 to 19 March 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The workshop was attended by a total of 69 participants (61 in person and 8 via online platforms). The delegation included officials responsible for implementing Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) measures from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Distinguished representatives from several international and technical organizations also participated, including Governmental & Intergovernmental: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), NOAA, FAO, and the SEAFDEC Secretariat/Training Department. Technical & Strategic Partners: Canada’s Archipelago Marine Research, Global Fishing Watch, the IMCS Network, TMT, C4ADS, Skylight, MDA Space, OceanMind, RPOA-IUU, and Unseenlabs.
The aims of the workshop were to share information on regional efforts to combat IUU fishing, to introduce and promote the adoption of innovative MCS technologies, and to strengthen institutional cooperation in implementing measures to combat IUU fishing in the region.
Following the workshop, participants gained updated information on regional efforts to combat IUU fishing, as well as exposure to demonstrations and documentation of MCS technologies and innovations used to address the issue, such as electronic reporting, satellite tracking, and AI-driven analytics. The workshop also helped initiate and strengthen technical and institutional cooperation for implementing measures to combat IUU fishing in the region.
