Regional Training Course for

Fisheries Inspectors in the Implementation of Port State Measures (PSM)

15 - 18 September 2025 at SEAFDEC/TD, Thailand



in collaboration with

           

Regional Training Course for Fisheries Inspectors in the Implementation of Port State Measures (PSM)

15 - 18 September 2025


Samut Prakan, Thailand

Global marine fishery production has been declining, with Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing identified as a critical challenge to sustainable fisheries. This illicit activity undermines fisheries management at both national and international levels by circumventing established legal frameworks, leading to the rapid depletion of fish stocks and threatening marine biodiversity. Port State Measures (PSM) have emerged as a pivotal tool in combating IUU fishing by enforcing controls such as pre-arrival notifications, designated port use, vessel inspections, and restrictions on landing and transshipment of fish. These measures enhance the capacity of Port States to detect and deter non-compliant fishing activities, bridging the enforcement gaps often left by flag States. For the Southeast Asian region, strengthening PSM is essential to protecting fisheries resources, fostering regional cooperation, and promoting sustainable fisheries management. Effective implementation of PSM not only curbs IUU fishing but also ensures fair practices for responsible fishers while supporting broader conservation efforts across the region.

  • OBJECTIVES

    ● To build up the capacity of participants to better understand techniques for PSM and port control implementation

    ● To build up understanding of innovative tools analysis with notification and support for PSM and port control implementation

  • ● Increasing knowledge, skill, and experience of participants for inspection to support PSM and port control implementation

  • Three (3) representatives from each ASEAN Member States (except Lao PDR) who are engaged in and conduct PSM and/or port control activities at the inspection (professional level). We encourage gender-inclusive nominations, but due to donor requirements, participants must be civilian personnel

    Request for Participants

    All participants are requested to bring your personal laptops for practice. The training will be conducted in English

 

Date and Venue

The regional training will be held on 15–18 September 2025 (4 days) in SEAFDEC/TD, Samut Prakan, Thailand

Location

Timetable

15 - 18 September 2025

  • 15 September 2025 (Monday)

    Time
    Activities - Day 1
    Delivered by
    0830-0900 Registration
    0900-0930 Opening Session
    Statement by JICA Thailand office
    Statement by JAC team
    Statement by NOAA
    Opening address by SEAFDEC Secretary-General
    Group photo
    		 All
    0930-1030 Commercial fishing gear and operation method SEAFDEC/TD
    1030-1100 Refreshment
    1100-1200 Identification and classification of tuna species SEAFDEC/TD
    1200-1300 Lunch
    1300-1530 Introduction & Background to Port State Measures (PSMs)
    Explain the importance and purpose of Port State Measures (PSMs)

    Describe the key measures: PSMA and RFMO port State inspection measures
    (Note: voluntary implementation of elements of port State measures is an option for port States not Parties to PSMA and/or bound by RFMO port State measures)

    Explain the important features of PSMA/RFMO PSMs including designated ports, applicable vessels, advance requests for port entry and port State responsibilities, e.g. allowing or denying port entry; obligations to inspect vessels

    Examine similarities (and differences) between the PSMA and relevant RFMO port State measures (particularly for IOTC and WCPFC )

    Brief Introduction: Open Source Technology Tools and Use for PSM
    Brief introduction to the open-source tools that will be used on Day 2: GFW platform and Skylight

    Overview of the key information available in each and which elements of Port State measures implementation each tool can support)
    		 JAC and NOAA
    1530-1600 Preparation for Day 2
    Set up participant logins for GFW, Skylight platforms (Triton optional)
    		All assist (access via laptops; not Ipads/phones)
    1800-2000 Reception Dinner

  • Time
    Activities - Day 2
    Delivered by
    0900-1200 Open Source Technology Tools and Use for PSM (continued)
    Brief recap of Day 1

    Introducing concepts of risk and risk assessment to guide decisions on port entry/ use/ denial and selection of vessels for inspection

    Understand the different tools and information sources that can inform the risk assessment - Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) tools and other relevant non-satellite -based information sources, including vessel authorizations, RFMO IUU lists, internal records, etc.

    Recognizing a risk-based approach can also be used to select domestic vessels for port inspection

    Demonstrate how the GFW platform and Skylight can be used to indicate vessels with a higher IUU fishing risk to prioritize for port inspection

    Do step-by-step demo - participants follow along:
    a. GFW platform, then
    b. Skylight (complements GFW platform).
    		 JAC
    (NOAA assist as needed)
    1200-1300 Lunch
    1300-1530 Case Study Exercises Using GFW/ Skylight
    Examine specific vessel cases to demonstrate use of the tools in a real world scenario

    Work through some examples - identify potential risk factors, e.g. by checking:
    a. History of the vessel flag, owner, master
    b. Any past evidence of IUU fishing/ RFMO IUU listing
    c. Authorizations (including for RFMOs)
    d. Potentially suspicious behavior patterns indicated by satellite data, e.g. by analysis of movement patterns, location and speed, etc.
    e. Indications of having fished in closed or non-authorized areas
    f. Evidence of potential at-sea encounters including at-sea transshipping if not permitted/ declared

    Discuss next steps when higher risk vessels identified

    		 JAC
    (NOAA assist as needed)
    1530-1600 Participant Feedback
    Opportunity for participants to discuss and share lessons learned/takeaways amongst the group     		All

  • Time
    Activities - Day 3
    Delivered by
    0900-1200 Port Inspection: General
    Discuss U.S. implementation of PSMA, including port State inspection techniques and lessons learned from NOAA PSM port inspections
    Discussion of PSMA case studies
    Offloading control - discuss relevant examples

    Port Inspections to Meet RFMO Requirements
    RFMO port State measures may be revised at any time - show participants how to:
    ○ locate relevant RFMO (e.g. IOTC) Port State Measures CMMs and understand which species each RFMO covers,
    ○ locate key RFMO requirements within CMMs, e.g. percentage of foreign flagged vessels required to be inspected
    		NOAA
    1200-1300 Lunch
    1300-1600 Port Inspection: Practical
    Practice port inspection on M.V. SEAFDEC
    		 NOAA
    1600-1615 Post training survey
    		 Participants

  • Time
    Activities - Day 4
    Delivered by
    0900-1600 Observation of Bangkok fishing port and inspection activities All

Contact

Accommodation Location at 14 Residence:

119, Suksawat Road, Soi 66, Bang Phueng, Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan Province, 10130, Thailand

Call:

Tel: +662 817 2277, Fax: +662 817 1133

Training Location at SEAFDEC Training Department:

97, Suksawat Road, Laemfapha, Phra Samut Chedi District, Samut Prakan Province, 10290, Thailand

Administrative Matters:

Ms. Yanida Suthipol
E-mail: yanida@seafdec.org