SEAFDEC Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
Representatives from the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) participated in the International Fisheries Negotiations and Strategy Indo-Pacific Workshop, held in Bangkok from 14 to 18 September 2026. The delegation comprised Mr. Masahide Kanno, Senior Expert and Assistant Project Manager for Japanese Trust Fund Programs, and Ms. Sawitree Chamsai, Senior Policy and Program Officer.
During the Workshop, Mr. Kanno delivered a feature presentation titled “SEAFDEC’s cooperations for capacity buildings in Southeast Asia”. His session showcased SEAFDEC’s strategic initiatives across the Member Countries, highlighting major regional achievements in tuna stock assessments, tools to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing such as the Regional Fishing Vessels Records (RFVR) and the electronic ASEAN Catch Documentation Scheme and technical support aiding member nations in meeting global ocean governance commitments.
The Workshop, organized by the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security (ANCORS) at the University of Wollongong and funded by Australia, aimed to equip early- to mid-career officials with critical negotiation strategies for regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), focusing on the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). Coordinated alongside the G16 Secretariat, Pew Charitable Trusts, Global Fishing Watch, and the Japan Fisheries Agency, the Workshop underscored a joint commitment to sustainable transboundary fisheries management.
