21/05/2026
𝗙𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘆-𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿
𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧
At the kind invitation of the Government of Thailand through its Department of Fisheries, as the host, the Fifty-eighth Meeting of the SEAFDEC Council (58CM) was convened on 19–21 May 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.
In attendance at the Meeting were the Council Directors and delegates from the SEAFDEC Member Countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia (online), Indonesia (online), Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The Inaugural Ceremony of the 58CM was held on 19 May 2026 and presided over by Dr. Pornthep Sritanatorn, Inspector General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand. The Council unanimously elected the Council Director for Thailand, Dr. Thitiporn Laoprasert, represented by Mr. Prathet Sorrak as the Chairperson of the SEAFDEC Council for the Year 2026–2027, succeeding the Council Director for Singapore, Mr. Leong Der Yao, who served as the Chairperson of the SEAFDEC Council for the Year 2025–2026.
The year 2025 was consequential for SEAFDEC with multiple programs and projects, while also emphasizing the importance of strengthening regional solidarity, resilience, and adaptive capacity that address emerging fisheries-related issues confronting the region, such as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, climate change, marine pollution, and gender equality, among others. In recognition of SEAFDEC’s achievements, the Council approved the proposed programs of activities for 2026, which ensure effective implementation that corresponds to the priorities and needs of the countries in the Southeast Asian region.
The Council reaffirmed that combating IUU fishing remains among the top priorities. Notable advancements include strengthened monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS), improved traceability systems, and enhanced capacity for port State measures implementation. The Council further encouraged the adoption of digital technologies and electronic traceability systems to strengthen transparency and monitoring in fisheries management. Building on ongoing initiatives, the Council also noted the continued development of the Regional Fishing Vessels Record (RFVR) Database, which supports more effective monitoring of smaller-sized fishing vessels. Progress was further recognized in addressing transshipment at sea, including the identification of key challenges, future directions, and capacity-building needs.
The Council noted the successful completion of the project “Regional Collaborative Research and Capacity Building for Monitoring and Reduction of Marine Debris from Fisheries in Southeast Asia,” including the outcomes of the regional symposium, which highlighted key messages and recommendations for future actions to address ALDFG. The formulation of the draft “Technical Guidelines to Assess, Prevent, and Remove Abandoned, Lost, or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) in the Southeast Asian region,” expected to be submitted to the SEAFDEC Council at its 59th Meeting in 2027, is one of the impactful policy papers being developed.
Recognizing the importance of hydroacoustic-based stock assessment, the Council took note of the progress of the fisheries acoustic survey for pelagic fish stock assessment along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and the Future Plan for the Transfer of Hydroacoustic-based Stock Assessment Technology to the SEAFDEC Member Countries. In this connection, the Council supported the relevant SEAFDEC Departments in continuing the regional implementation and development of fisheries acoustic technologies, and underscored the importance of science-based fisheries management and evidence-based policymaking to ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries resources in Southeast Asia.
The Council acknowledged the outcomes of the 20th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to CITES, and reaffirmed the important roles of SEAFDEC in supporting the Member Countries in utilizing scientific evidence and developing common/coordinated positions in response to proposals for listing commercially exploited aquatic species (CEAS) in the CITES Appendices. The Council also noted the progress of a new project, “Toward Science-Based Stock Assessment and Management of CEAS,” to strengthen the scientific basis for the management of sharks and anguillid eels in Southeast Asia, and acknowledged the preparation of the joint SEAFDEC–CITES Regional Workshop on Introduction from the Sea (IFS), scheduled in August 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Coming into fruition this year is the “SEAFDEC Database on Fishery Statistics of Southeast Asia,” which is now accessible to the public at https://fisherystatistics.seafdec.org/. The Council congratulated SEAFDEC for its successful development, which is in line with the Regional Framework for Fishery Statistics of Southeast Asia (2024 Edition). The Council also noted the outline of the publication of the “Southeast Asian State of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SEASOFIA) 2027,” which is expected to be launched at the 59th Meeting of the SEAFDEC Council in 2027.
The Council appreciated the cooperation and collaboration between SEAFDEC and other regional/international agencies/organizations and donors, particularly the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Intergovernmental Organization for Marketing Information and Technical Advisory Services for Fishery Products in the Asia and Pacific Region (INFOFISH), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Network for Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA), the World Wildlife Fund, Inc. (WWF-US), and the U.S. Government, among others, in undertaking activities toward sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture in the Southeast Asian region.
Some of the breakthroughs in marine research were achieved in 2025 through the M.V. SEAFDEC 2, a research vessel stalwart which was granted by the Government of Japan to SEAFDEC in 2004, for biomass and oceanographic survey using hydroacoustic equipment on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and for the marine debris and microplastic survey in the Gulf of Thailand. For 2026, the Council approved its use for the conduct of fishery resource and environmental surveys in Brunei Darussalam and Myanmar waters.
In 2027, SEAFDEC will hit a milestone 60th year since its establishment in 1967. With the Council’s support, the organization will mark the occasion with a special Anniversary Event, to be co-hosted by the Government of Thailand and scheduled for 19 August 2027 at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 58CM was successfully concluded, with the Council noting the progress and achievements of SEAFDEC’s programs and projects in 2025 and approving the proposed programs of activities for 2026. The Council encouraged SEAFDEC to effectively implement programs and projects that are responsive to the priorities and needs of Member Countries. The 58CM further underscored the continued commitment of Member Countries to work closely with SEAFDEC and collaborate with partner organizations to enhance the sustainable contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to food security, economic development, and the well-being of people in the Southeast Asian region.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Lukhana Booksongsrikul, Senior Expert on Fisheries Foreign Affairs, Department of Fisheries, Thailand ([email protected])
Ms. Nualanong Tongdee, Information Program Coordinator, SEAFDEC Secretariat ([email protected])
