Thailand Outlines Global Fisheries Role at FAO Meet

Thailand’s Department of Fisheries has outlined the country’s role in shaping global fisheries management at the Second Session of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management (2nd SCFM) held in Reykjavik, Iceland, from 23–27 February 2026. The meeting was organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The Thai delegation, led by Director-General Thitiporn Laoprasert, participated in discussions to help set global policy directions and promote sustainable fisheries management in line with international standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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The SCFM meeting brought together representatives from 193 FAO member countries, the European Union and non-governmental organisations. It serves as a key global forum for establishing policy and technical frameworks on fisheries management amid rapidly changing economic, social and environmental conditions. Discussions were guided by the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF), focusing on conservation measures and sustainable resource use.

Over five days, Thailand presented its progress in long-term sustainable fisheries management and shared best practices. On conservation and sustainable use of aquatic resources, Thailand highlighted science-based management combined with local knowledge and stakeholder participation, citing the community-initiated crab bank project supported by the Department of Fisheries and expanded across coastal provinces. The delegation also called on FAO to support context-appropriate approaches for small-scale and data-limited fisheries, including freshwater stock assessments.

On multi-species fisheries management, Thailand outlined measures based on scientific evidence, including studies on mackerel life cycles and seasonal fishing closures. The country applies maximum sustainable yield (MSY) principles to determine fishing days and licensing, while developing assessment tools suited to multi-species and multi-gear fisheries.

Regarding fleet capacity management, Thailand has integrated the International Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacity (IPOA-Capacity) into its national fisheries management plan. Measures include aligning fishing licences with MSY assessments, registering only licensed vessels, formalising small-scale vessel registration, and applying Monitoring, Control and Surveillance systems such as the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and the Electronic Port-In Port-Out (E-PIPO) system. Thailand also contributes vessel data for boats 24 metres and over to the FAO Global Record to enhance transparency.

Thailand further emphasised integrating social dimensions into fisheries management through public consultations, provincial fisheries committees and application of FAO guidelines for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries. The country continues to engage in regional fisheries management organisations, complying with conservation measures and strengthening digital MCS systems for Thai vessels operating beyond national waters.

Director-General Thitiporn said participation in the 2nd SCFM reflects Thailand’s proactive role in shaping global fisheries governance. She stated it reinforces the country’s commitment to raising regulatory standards in line with international principles and building confidence in Thailand’s fisheries industry under the “Fisheries Connect for Sustainability” concept.

Pictures courtesy of InsideThailand

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Adapted by ASEAN Now InsideThailand 1 Mar 2026