that provide suitable and reliable geographical/environmental information. The compiled data from fishing grounds would be clarified through multivariate analysis. The Project would come up with a manual on technical methods for analyzing catch and environmental data. In addition, a workshop would also be conducted to disseminate the analytical techniques using GIS mapping technology to the AMSs.
3. Harmonization and Enhancing Utilization of Fishery Statistics and Information (2020-2024)
The Project has the overall objective of enhancing the utilization of fishery statistics data and information for policy planning and management of fisheries toward sustainability.
Under this Project, concerned staff from SEAFDEC will continue to participate in international meetings related to fishery statistics. In 2020 as the first year of this project, SEAFDEC Secretariat would conduct a Regional Technical Consultation among the AMSs to discuss the need to review/
revise the Regional Framework for Fishery Statistics of Southeast Asia, developed and used since 2008. Moreover, with a view to generating fisheries information that could support policy planning and management of fisheries, a meeting would be conducted among the concerned staff of the SEAFDEC Secretariat and Departments to discuss the contents of the publication “Southeast Asian State of Fisheries and Aquaculture” which is expected to be published in 2022.
Meanwhile, the publication “Fish for the People” with 3 issues annually would also be sustained under the Project.
SEC JTF
4. Responsible Fishing Technology and Practice (2020-2024) The Project aims to promote responsible fishing technologies and practices in Southeast Asia that minimize the impacts of fishing activities on the fishery resources and the marine ecosystems. In 2020, two regional technical meetings would be organized – one of which would aim to identify and gather information on environmental-impacted fishing gears and practices to the marine ecosystems, and the other one would focus on fuel consumption and safety in fishing operations.
Furthermore, a regional training-of-trainers (ToT) would also be conducted on fish handing techniques onboard fishing vessels.
TD JTF
5. Research for Enhancement of Sustainable Utilization and Management of Sharks and Rays in the Southeast Asian Region (2020-2024)
The Project aims to work toward capacity development for the participating Member Countries, namely: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam, on taxonomy, new species/record identification, and management of major shark species; confirmation of stock structures for selected common species and CITES- listed species of sharks and rays; and development of socio-economic studies in selected sites using multifactor partitioning analysis. In 2020, a core experts meeting would
MFRDMD JTF
be organized in Malaysia. SEAFDEC will also support shark data collection starting from 2020 until 2024 to obtain long- term landing data for estimating the stock and biomass using various models. Furthermore, a study would be undertaken on the stock structure of shark species, i.e. Chiloscyllium hasseltii, Carcharhinus sorrah, and Sphyrna lewini.
6. Sustainable Utilization of Anguillid Eels in the Southeast Asian Region (2020-2024)
The Project aims to sustain the sustainable management and utilization of anguillid eel fishery resources in the Southeast Asian region through the strategic program of sustainable eel resources management. In achieving sustainable eel fisheries and standardization of data collection system in Southeast Asia, surveys will be conducted in Indonesia and Philippines to collect catch and effort data as well as biological data. On genetic population structure of tropical eels in Southeast Asia, tissue samples would be collected in Indonesia, as well as in other countries, such as Philippines, Viet Nam and Myanmar.
Laboratory work would also be conducted to analyze the genetic population structure of tropical anguillid eels.
IFRDMD JTF
7. Sustainable Utilization of Fisheries Resources and Resources Enhancement in Southeast Asia (2020-2024) The Project aims to achieve improved technical capacities of human resources in the region in conducting marine fishery resources and oceanographic research surveys; improve technical knowledge, skills and experiences of staff from SEAFDEC and the Member Countries through their participation in survey cruises; assist in the development of research cruise plans for vessels of SEAFDEC and the Member Countries;
generate scientific knowledge to support the management of transboundary fishery resources in Southeast Asia; promote the application of Fisheries GIS and Remote Sensing for monitoring the marine fishery resources and environment;
and sustain resource enhancement through establishment of artificial habitats. In 2020, the Project would particularly focus on the conduct of training, research and workshops on relevant subjects, e.g. marine debris, survey cruise, fishery resource and stock assessment, transboundary fishery resources, utilization techniques of fisheries GIS and RS, and impacts of establishment of artificial habitats on fishery resources and marine environment.
TD JTF
8. Fisheries Management Strategies for Pelagic Fish Resources in the Southeast Asian Region (2020-2024) Starting with the participating countries, namely: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam, the Project would support stock assessments and risk assessments for small pelagic fisheries as well as neritic tunas in the Southeast Asian region;
clarify the stock structure for neritic tuna species in the region; and carry out life-history study for neritic tuna species in the region. For small pelagic species, MFRDMD would
MFRDMD JTF
collect and compile regional information on targeted species for stock assessment and risk assessment and conduct the First Core Experts Meeting in 2020. For Neritic tuna species, regional information would also be collected and compiled for stock assessment and risk assessment. Pilot otolith studies would also be conducted for selected neritic tuna species.
9. Management Scheme of Inland Fisheries in the Southeast Asian Region (2020-2024)
In achieving the objectives toward the sustainable management and utilization of inland fishery resources in Southeast Asia, the Project would carry out two main activities, namely: 1) development and dissemination of the guidelines on inland fisheries management in Southeast Asia; and 2) establishment of catch database and profiles of freshwater fish biodiversity, and publication of the manual book on collection and sampling of inland fish biological characteristics. In 2020, meetings would be conducted among the AMSs to obtain data and information on the present status of inland fisheries management; while a writeshop would be organized to enhance the AMSs capacity in writing articles for publications and relevant institutional documents on inland fisheries. Surveys and data monitoring would also be conducted in selected sites in Indonesia and Myanmar.
IFRDMD JTF
10. Small-scale Fisheries Management for Better Livelihood and Fisheries Resources (2020-2024)
The Project aims toward the sustainable management of small-scale fisheries (SSF) for improving the livelihood and well-being of fishers in Southeast Asia. Specifically, the Project comprises three main activities: 1) Putting in place Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in selected pilot sites in the Member Countries; 2) Capability development in the implementation of the SSF Guidelines for improving the livelihood and well-being of small-scale fishers;
and 3) Promotion of gender integration and empowerment in sustainable fisheries management. In 2020, a regional workshop would be conducted for developing the EAFM implementation work plan in pilot sites, e.g. in Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Survey and data collection would be conducted on fisheries socio-economics in the Member Countries in order to develop the appropriate approaches/
processes of promoting fisheries micro-financing, credit and insurance for small-scale fishers. A regional workshop would also be conducted to share the information and knowledge on gender integration in SSF and promote the adoption of the SEAFDEC Gender Analysis Toolkit.
TD JTF
11. Development of Stock Assessment Method for Strengthening of Resources Management Measures of Tropical Anguillid Eels in AMS (2020-2021)
This project is considered a continuation of the first phase project “Enhancing Sustainable Utilization and Management Scheme of Tropical Anguillid Eel Resources in Southeast Asia”
SEC JAIF
also funded by JAIF and implemented from 2017 to 2019 to develop eel fishery statistics and data collection system, examine the status of tropical anguillid eel species in AMS, and improve eel aquaculture activities. The new JAIF project would focus on: collecting catch data and biological/
ecological information for the estimation of eel resources stocks, and developing the mathematical/statistical methods for estimating tropical anguillid eel resources stocks that could be used for the formulation of effective management measures for the sustainable use of tropical anguillid eels in Southeast Asia. In 2020, a regional planning meeting will be organized to examine the validity of the developed methods for eel stock assessment, disseminate such methods to the AMSs, and prepare a manual on the effective resource management methods for tropical anguillid eels.
Strategy II: Supporting the sustainable growth of aquaculture to complement fisheries and contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and livelihood of people in the region 12. Sustainable Aquaculture through Cost-Effective Culture
Systems, and Prompt and Effective Aquatic Animal Health Management (2020-2024)
The Project, which aims to attain sustainable aquaculture through a cost-effective culture systems, as well as prompt and effective aquatic animal health management schemes, comprises various related activities. Specifically for 2020, the planned activities include: 1) Application of social preparation method to enable the implementation of community-based strategies for mass production of giant freshwater prawn juveniles in hatcheries and nurseries; 2) Cage trial using alternative feeds in tilapia juveniles using different feeding strategies; 3) Identification of organism that can be used in the constructed/artificial wetlands to improve water quality and purify pond effluents; 4) Survey and procurement of breeders of new aquatic species, e.g. kawakawa, shortfin scad, flathead lobster, and seahorse, for developing breeding and seed production techniques; 5) Comprehensive diagnosis on unknown mortalities and development of detection methods for the emerging diseases; 6) Studies on surveillance, distribution, occurrence and prevalence of Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei EHP; 7) Investigation of chemicals and methods for preventing transmission of WSSV and other important shrimp diseases; 8) Simulation tank trials for optimized disease control and management strategy against shrimp and other emerging diseases in brackishwater ponds; and 9) Training on sustainable aquaculture, particularly on rural aquaculture development.
AQD JTF
Strategy III: Ensuring the food safety and quality of fish and fishery products for the Southeast Asian region
13. Enhancing Food Safety and Competitiveness of Seafood Products (2020-2024)
The Project is aimed at improving food safety and the competitiveness of seafood products in the ASEAN region
MFRD JTF
through the conduct of training workshops and development of guidelines, with support of regional technical experts.
The Project comprises two scopes: 1) developing regional standards and guidelines on Good Manufacturing and Handling Practices (GMP & GHP) for sushi and sashimi; and 2) introducing High-Pressure Processing (HPP) Processing Protocols for seafood. In 2020, which is the first year of this Project, two project inception and planning meetings will be organized to finalize the implementation plan of activities and identify the National Focal Points from each Member Country under the two scopes.
Strategy IV: Enhancing trade and compliance of the region’s fish and fishery products with