SEAFDEC Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
The Secretary-General of SEAFDEC, Ms. Sampan Panjarat, signified the commitment of SEAFDEC to supporting the ASEAN Member States in combating IUU fishing in her Closing Message at the “Training Course on Fisheries Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) in Southeast Asia” held on 31 October 2025 via an online platform. The training was organized by Nha Trang University in Viet Nam, in collaboration with the Government of Australia.
In her message, Ms. Sampan highlighted the role of SEAFDEC in leading regional efforts to combat IUU fishing since 2016 through initiatives that promote cooperation, enhance national capacities, and strengthen regulatory frameworks. These efforts align with key regional agreements such as the ASEAN Roadmap on Combating IUU Fishing (2021–2025) and the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security Toward 2030. She also emphasized SEAFDEC’s ongoing activities related to combating IUU fishing, including promotion of responsible fishing practices; implementation of regional monitoring tools such as the ASEAN Catch Documentation Scheme (ACDS) and Vessel Monitoring System (VMS); strengthening port State and flag State measures; and advancing traceability across the seafood supply chain.
Other collaborations between SEAFDEC and its partners in combating IUU fishing were also highlighted, including through the “Women in Fisheries Workshop” held in 2024 in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Australia, which promoted gender inclusion in fisheries management and the fight against IUU fishing. Additionally, SEAFDEC continued to collaborate with the Japanese Trust Fund, the ASEAN-JICA, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in strengthening regional capacities to combat IUU fishing and promote sustainable fisheries resources in Southeast Asia.
