SEAFDEC Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
On 10 September 2026, the SEAFDEC Secretary-General, Ms. Sampan Panjarat, commended FAO for its support in the implementation of the ongoing GEF-funded projects in the Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Thailand marine ecosystems. She highlighted that both projects are significant in demonstrating science-based fisheries management, EAFM, participatory and co-management approaches, and the assessment of data-limited, multispecies and multigear fisheries. They also promote the integration of gender equality and social inclusion into fisheries management to strengthen sustainable, inclusive, and resilient small-scale fisheries and enhance their contributions to food security, nutrition, and livelihoods in Southeast Asia.
During COFI37, SEAFDEC also participated in the side events, “From policy to practice: connecting national plans of action and ecosystem-based management for small-scale fisheries in the Bay of Bengal” and “Fisheries Engagement in the BBNJ Agreement: Moving from Principles to Practice.”
