Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing remains a critical global issue that requires continued and coordinated international efforts. IUU fishing undermines sustainable fisheries management, damages marine ecosystems, and has significant economic and social impacts on coastal communities in Southeast Asia. ASEAN Member States (AMS), as major producers and exporters in the global seafood market, play a vital role in addressing this challenge. Various international frameworks support these efforts, including the FAO Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Support Vessels, and the Global Information Exchange System (GIES). In addition, at the regional level, several regional initiatives have been established to strengthen the regional cooperation for combat IUU fishing e.g. AN-IUU, RPOA-IUU.

The project aims to leverage and support the implementation of these international frameworks at a regional level. Regionally, the ASEAN Roadmap on Combating IUU Fishing (2021–2025) provides strategic direction to strengthen cooperation, improve fisheries governance, and promote responsible fishing practices, and promote the existing regional platforms for effective fisheries management. Capacity building is a central component of these efforts, aiming to enhance the technical, legal, and institutional abilities of AMS to effectively implement Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS), Port State Measures (PSM), and traceability systems. Regional organizations such as the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) have played a critical role in supporting AMS through training programs, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing platforms, thereby reinforcing the region’s collective ability to combat IUU fishing.

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