The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is the cabinet-level agency that protects and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage, oversees energy and minerals production, and strengthens tribal communities across the country. The U.S. Department of the Interior’s International Technical Assistance Program (DOI-ITAP) is working in close collaboration with governmental and non-governmental partners to facilitate the exchange of DOI technical experts with international counterparts on all aspects of natural and cultural resources management, supports technical assistance and training, DOI-ITAP collaborates with state and federal U.S. agencies, foreign governments, and civil society groups to excel as an active leader in the global conservation community. Since 2013, DOI-ITAP has worked closely with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States Department of State, non-governmental organizations, and local communities to help strengthen sustainable fisheries in Southeast Asia. However, Illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing results in significant economic losses, as measured by opportunity costs, faster pace of resource degradation, and unequal resource distribution. IUU fishing often comes into conflict with small-scale fishermen by encroaching on inshore waters, increasing competition for the resources, and leaving such areas depleted and with degraded habitats. The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) demonstrates tremendous effort to counter the deleterious, regional impacts of IUU fishing while offering ways to implement sustainable fishing practices.

DOI recognizes the importance of addressing illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing and supports SEAFDEC for human resource development through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DOI and SEAFDEC. This would strengthen the capacity of SEAFDEC in fisheries management and resilience in the context of climate change, and marine environmental research surveys to enhance sustainable fisheries management in Southeast Asia.

USAID DOI International Technical Assistance Program expected output is the competence of SEAFDEC/TD researchers and staff in fisheries management and socioeconomic, monitoring of the fisheries resources for observing the effect of climate change, and SEAFDEC researchers and
navigators in fisheries resources and marine environment research survey.

The expected outcomes include the proposals of the aforementioned subjects that can be submitted to the relevant agencies for funding support as well as the research publications that could be published and distributed to technically support the fisheries management in the region.

Human resources development (training or workshop) on Socioeconomic Monitoring (SOCMON) and the fisheries resilience to fisheries management in small-scale fisheries in Southeast Asia

• Sub-Activity 1.1: Training and field practice on Socioeconomic Monitoring (SOCMON) for coastal and small-scale fisheries management in Southeast Asia
• Sub-Activity 1.2: Training on Fisheries Resilience and workshop on the development of fisheries management plan in small-scale fisheries.

The monitoring of fish stock life history parameters for observing the effect of climate change in Southeast Asian region.

• Sub-Activity 2.1: Training course on the monitoring of fish stock life history parameters for observing the effect of climate change in the Southeast Asian region
• Sub-Activity 2.2: Core expert meeting to improve the draft work plan and way forward on the project implementation plan

• Sub-Activity 3.1: Human resources capacity building program to improve skill and experience of SEAFDEC/TD researchers and navigators for fisheries resources and marine environment research survey

Human Resources Development (Training or Workshop) on Socioeconomic Monitoring (SOCMON) and the Fisheries resilience to fisheries management in Small-scale fisheries in Southeast Asia

Training and Field Practice on Socioeconomic Monitoring (SOCMON) for Coastal and Small-scale Fisheries Management in Southeast Asia

• Consult with the resource person on the appropriate programs
• The training program would be discussed and the work would be developed

Training on Fisheries Resilience and Workshop on Development of Fisheries Management Plan in Small-scale Fisheries

• Develop the prospectus for a training workshop on fisheries resilience to fisheries management in small-scale fisheries with resources person

The monitoring of fish stock life history parameters for observing the effect of climate change in the Southeast Asian Region

Training course on the monitoring of fish stock life history parameters for observing the effect of climate change in the Southeast Asian Region

Core expert meeting on improving the draft work plan and way forward on project implementation

• Designed the training activities with a potential resource person
• Identified further potential resource persons
• Identified the target group of the training course for further invitation

• Preparing the meeting prospectus
• Listing the appropriate person who will be invited to participate in the meeting
• The meeting topics were designed with further meeting agenda in the planning process

Human resource development to improve the skill and experience of SEAFDEC/TD researchers and navigators in fisheries resources and marine environment research survey

Shipboard training onboard a research vessel

• Prioritizing capacity-building topics
• Communicating with the potential partners to participate in onboarding