SEAFDEC/IFRDMD Workshop Advances Regional Strategies to Combat Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Systems
The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), through its Inland Fishery Resources Development and Management Department (IFRDMD), convened a regional workshop titled “Mitigation and Strategic Policy for Tackling Microplastic Pollution in Marine and Inland Fisheries across Southeast Asia” on 2-3 July 2025, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Themed “Advancing the Blue Economy through Strategies for Managing Plastic Pollution in Aquatic Systems,” the event aimed to strengthen regional policy frameworks and mitigation practices against microplastic pollution.
The workshop brought together 40 in-person participants from the fisheries departments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, as well as representatives from the SEAFDEC Secretariat and its technical departments (TD, AQD, MFRDMD, IFRDMD). An additional 105 participants joined remotely, highlighting the region’s commitment to broad-based knowledge exchange.
Organised by SEAFDEC/IFRDMD with funding support from the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), the workshop underscored the importance of synergy between regional institutions and international partners in addressing this transboundary challenge. It builds on SEAFDEC’s ongoing advocacy for sustainable fisheries through science- and policy-based approaches.
