Despite the economic importance of pelagic fisheries like Engraulidae and Scombridae in Southeast Asia, overfishing and advanced gear have led to significant population declines, necessitating urgent conservation measures such as seasonal fishing bans and ichthyoplankton surveys. However, effective stock management is currently hindered by a regional shortage of experts and the lack of a specialized identification guide for local fish larvae. To address these gaps, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) has initiated training workshops and developed a dedicated larval fish identification book to standardize research, reduce reliance on non-regional reference materials, and ultimately ensure the sustainability of marine capture fisheries.

Konishi, Y., Chayakul, R., Punsri, R., & Changphetphol, N. (2025). Identification guide to scombrid fishes and larvae of Southeast Asia. Training Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.