Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing remains a critical global issue that requires continued and coordinated international efforts. IUU fishing undermines sustainable fisheries management, damages marine ecosystems, and has significant economic and social impacts on coastal communities in Southeast Asia. ASEAN Member States (AMS), as major producers and exporters in the global seafood market, play a vital role in addressing this challenge. Various international frameworks support these efforts, including the FAO Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Support Vessels, and the Global Information Exchange System (GIES). In addition, at the regional level, several regional initiatives have been established to strengthen the regional cooperation for combat IUU fishing e.g. AN-IUU, RPOA-IUU.

The project aims to leverage and support the implementation of these international frameworks at a regional level. Regionally, the ASEAN Roadmap on Combating IUU Fishing (2021–2025) provides strategic direction to strengthen cooperation, improve fisheries governance, and promote responsible fishing practices, and promote the existing regional platforms for effective fisheries management. Capacity building is a central component of these efforts, aiming to enhance the technical, legal, and institutional abilities of AMS to effectively implement Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS), Port State Measures (PSM), and traceability systems. Regional organizations such as the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) have played a critical role in supporting AMS through training programs, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing platforms, thereby reinforcing the region’s collective ability to combat IUU fishing.

To strengthen national and regional responses to combat IUU fishing through digital innovation, capacity building, gender-sensitive approaches, and cooperation among Southeast Asian countries. Digital innovation and gender-sensitive approaches are crucial for developing more efficient, transparent, and equitable fisheries management systems. The focus will be on strengthening capacity building on Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) systems activities to combat IUU fishing, including improving implementation of Port State Measures (PSM), enhancing the capacity of the use of regional platform, enhancing traceability for fish and fishery products, and fostering transparency in fisheries management. The scope includes regional workshops, practical workshops, and exchange of best practices.

The project will specifically:

• Facilitate exchange of information, lessons learned, and experiences on implementation activities on combat IUU fishing in the region
• Promote harmonization of port state controls, national fisheries laws/regulations, and traceability of fish and fishery products
• Build institutional capacity for policy development, enforcement, and data management through regional collaboration and technical assistance.

1. Enhanced technical capacity for fisheries officers and AN-IUU focal points of the AMSs to have better knowledge and skills to conduct effective inspections, enforce regulations, and manage traceability systems.
2. Strengthened collaboration among AMS through knowledge sharing, best practices, learning, and alignment of regional strategies in addressing IUU fishing.

AMSs better implement the Port State Measure, monitoring fisheries resources and relevant national regulations to combat IUU Fishing,

SEAFDEC Gender Strategy 2.2. Integrate gender perspectives throughout the cycle of gender-sensitive programs and projects

• Promoting equitable participation of male and female stakeholders in the implementation of programs and projects where applicable
• Collecting and compiling sex-disaggregated data throughout the implementation of programs and projects

Regional Workshop on Information Exchange on Monitoring Control and Surveillance of Combating IUU Fishing (Co-organized with BOBLME II project).

The main aim of the Workshop is to update and share the MCS implementation in the region and beyond.  SEAFDEC will lead the content development and coordination, leveraging BOBLME II’s and regional network for border participation.

Expected outputs

• Regional capacity for the Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) of Combating IUU Fishing is improved
• Minimum 15 participants from AMSs have built up capacity.
• Regional references for enhancing the capacity of fisheries officers in AMS are disseminated.
• Network on the fisheries officers (Practitioner level) in AMS is strengthened

Deliverables

• Workshop Report
• Summary on the regional MCS implementation status,
• Recommendations for regional MCS harmonization
• Reference i.e. handbooks, presentations, VDO clips as using in the training course

Practical Workshop on Surveillance to Combat IUU Fishing: Focus on Marine Surveillance Activities.

The workshop will build capacity on PSM, VMS/AIS analysis, AI technology, AN-IUU platform

Expected Outputs

• Regional capacity for Combat IUU Fishing: Focus on Marine Surveillance including PSM, VMS/AIS analysis, AI technology, AN-IUU platform
• Minimum 15 participants (AN-IUU Focal points) from AMSs have built up capacity.
• Regional references for enhancing the capacity of fisheries officers in AMS are disseminated.

Deliverables

• Workshop report
• Training/Workshop reference on the applications of VMS/AIS and AI for surveillance
• List of (at least) 15 participants from AMSs as the regional network of AN-IUU Focal points

Practical Workshop on Monitoring to Combat IUU Fishing: Focus on Monitoring Activities.

The Workshop will build capacity on stock, taxonomy, IUU fishing estimation loss, etc. The target participants will be fisheries officers from AMSs who are responsible for and engage in monitoring for combating IUU fishing

Expected Outputs

• Regional capacity for the Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) of Combating IUU Fishing: Monitoring status of fisheries resources.
• Minimum 15 participants (Fisheries resources management officer or researcher) from AMSs have built up capacity.
• Regional references for enhancing the capacity of fisheries officers in AMS are disseminated.
• Scientific network on the fisheries officers (Practitioner level) in AMS is strengthened

Deliverables

• Workshop report
• Training materials such as stock assessment and IUU estimation methodologies, case studies of successful monitoring practice.
• List of participants (Fisheries resources management officer or researcher) from AMSs have built up capacity.

Practical Workshop on Control to Combat IUU Fishing: Focus on Control Activities.

The workshop will build capacity on ocean governance including law and regulation, UNCLOS, BBNJ and etc. The target participants will be senior and junior fisheries officers from AMSs who are responsible for and engage in the control of combating IUU fishing

Expected Outputs

• Regional capacity for ocean governance including law and regulation, UNCLOS, BBNJ and etc. to illuminate IUU Fishing including Guidelines for harmonizing national fisheries laws/regulations, and best practices document on control measures
• Minimum 15 participants (senior and junior fisheries officers) from AMSs have built up capacity.
• Regional references for enhancing the capacity of fisheries officers in AMS are disseminated.
• Regional network to support to illuminate IUU Fishing in national and regional level.

Deliverables

• Workshop report (including Guidelines for harmonizing national fisheries laws/regulations, best practices document on control measures)
• Reference i.e. handbooks, presentations, Guidelines for harmonizing national fisheries laws/regulations, best practices document on control measures using in the workshops.
• List of participants as the regional network to support to illuminate IUU Fishing in national and regional level