SEAFDEC/Training Department

𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗨𝗣!

FAO and SEAFDEC will co-organize the Regional Workshop on
“Key Challenges and Practical Solutions for Multispecies/Multigear (MSMG) Fisheries Management“
📍 Century Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
📅 8–12 June 2026

We look forward to productive discussions, knowledge sharing, and practical sessions that contribute to sustainable fisheries for the future 🌏💙
🌊🐟 𝘉𝘺 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺

𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗙𝗗𝗘𝗖 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗢𝗨 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰-𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

On 29 May 2026, the SEAFDEC representative, Dr. Taweekiat Amornpiyakrit, General Administrative Division Head, served as an honorary witness at the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Mineral Fuels, PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), PTTEP International Limited, and PTTEP Energy Development Company Limited at the Energy Complex in Bangkok, Thailand. The agreement establishes a cooperative framework for repurposing decommissioned petroleum production platforms into artificial marine habitats.

This collaborative initiative aims to drive a concrete research project in the Gulf of Thailand. By transforming former petroleum structures into thriving marine ecosystems, the cooperation will promote the long-term restoration and conservation of fishery resources. Ultimately, the MOU establishes clear operational guidelines for all parties involved, ensuring these platforms successfully enhance Thailand's marine biodiversity and benefit local fisheries for years to come.

Photo credits: Dissemination And Public Relation Group, Office of Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Thailand

𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗙𝗗𝗘𝗖 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗔𝗜 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗫𝗜𝗩 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗢𝗕𝗣-𝗜𝗚𝗢 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗶

Two delegates from SEAFDEC, Ms. Sampan Panjarat (Secretary-General of the Training Department) and Mr. Kongpathai Saraphaivanich (Training and Research Supporting Division Head) participated in the High-Level Policy Guidance Workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Fisheries: Strengthening MCS, Traceability & Governance Readiness in the Bay of Bengal Region from 28 to 29 May 2026, followed immediately by the XIV Governing Council Meeting (GCM-XIV) of the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) on 30 May 2026 in Mumbai, India. Both events were organized by BOBP-IGO.

The High-Level AI Workshop was convened under BOBLME-II project. Across the two-day technical workshop, international experts, technology providers, and national delegates explored operational AI tools built to perform under real artisanal fishing conditions. During the workshop, Ms. Sampan Panjarat delivered a presentation titled "What a Regional Technical Organization Can Do: Cooperation, Capacity Building, Traceability and MCS Tools in Southeast Asian Fisheries." She highlighted SEAFDEC’s technical milestones in establishing interoperable data frameworks, standardizing vessel records, and building multi-agency operational networks across Southeast Asia, offering valuable peer-learning insights for the Bay of Bengal region. Following the general workshop, the delegation participated in the BOBLME Project Partners Meet. This regional roundtable brought together key representatives from FAO, BOBP-IGO, IUCN, SEAFDEC, and UNODC to coordinate a Large Marine Ecosystem (LME)-wide MCS operational backbone. Crucially, the partners deliberated on establishing a structured dialogue to systematically delink maritime fisheries crime from routine small-scale fishing activities.

Following the workshop, regular Governing Council Members convened alongside observers to review the compiled outputs. The Governing Council officially adopted the Workshop Outcome Statement and endorsed a phased "pilot-and-learn" pathway for the 2026–27 work programme, which focuses on testing deployable AI tools across selected ports before broader rollouts. Council members noted that while AI offers powerful methods to minimize transaction costs, it must serve as an enabling layer that respects domestic legal frameworks, data sovereignty, and human judgment. Moreover, the Council approved BOBP-IGO’s role as the regional hub for coordinating AI-enabled fisheries governance within the BOBLME-II project framework.

This successful convergence of SEAFDEC, BOBP-IGO, and global technical partners underscores a strengthening partnership between Southeast Asia and South Asia. By consolidating scientific tools and coordinating enforcement protocols, both organizations continue to build meaningful public goods for sustainable ocean governance across adjacent large marine ecosystems.