The Regional Workshop on Enhancing Policies and Countermeasures Against IUU Fishing in Southeast Asia

Abstract

The Regional Workshop on Enhancing Policies and Countermeasures Against IUU Fishing in Southeast Asia was organized by the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) under the ASEAN–Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Project on IUU Fishing Countermeasures in Southeast Asia. The Workshop was conducted from 6 to 8 October 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, to strengthen regional cooperation and enhance the capacity of ASEAN Member States (AMSs) to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) Fishing. The Workshop served as a platform for AMSs to share experiences, update progress on the implementation of the National Plans of Action to Combat IUU Fishing (NPOA–IUU), and discuss policy actions and countermeasures in line with international and regional frameworks.

A total of 36 participants attended the Workshop, comprising representatives from AMSs, except Singapore, as well as officials from SEAFDEC, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and other relevant organizations. Key sessions focused on the current status of NPOA–IUU implementation, urgent concerns related to IUU Fishing countermeasures, and the initiative to develop the ASEAN Voluntary Guidelines for Transshipment. Participants exchanged views on challenges and gaps in Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS), Port State Measures (PSM), transshipment practices, and inter-agency coordination.

The Workshop concluded with agreed ways forward, emphasizing capacity building, strengthening legal and institutional frameworks, enhancing the use of monitoring technologies, and improving regional coordination and information-sharing mechanisms. The outcomes of the Workshop are expected to support AMSs in advancing effective policies and practical countermeasures against IUU Fishing, thereby contributing to sustainable fisheries management and responsible fishing practices in Southeast Asia.