Organized by the SEAFDEC/Inland Fishery Resources Development and Management Department (SEAFDEC/IFRDMD) on 16–17 September 2026, the regional workshop brought together around 20 participants from Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Viet Nam to strengthen cooperation on eel monitoring and data management in Southeast Asia.
At Sidat Labas, participants explored different stages of eel production, from glass eel, elver, and fingerling to market-size eel, as well as feed management, water-quality management, aquaculture technology, post-harvest handling, and marketing.
More importantly, the visit demonstrated how valuable information is generated at different stages of eel production. Understanding these real-world data flows provided participants with practical context for discussions on developing a regional eel database that is reliable, consistent, and adaptable to different national conditions.
The technical exchange also created a valuable bridge between regional fisheries cooperation and the private sector, allowing participants to share experiences and perspectives on eel production, monitoring, and data management.
For Southeast Asia, this connection is particularly important. Tropical anguillid eels (Anguilla spp.) are valuable fisheries resources, while their complex life cycle and transboundary distribution require coordinated monitoring and information sharing. Reliable data on species, catch, fishing effort, locations, and biological and environmental characteristics can support more informed management decisions.
The workshop is part of SEAFDEC/IFRDMD’s efforts to strengthen regional collaboration, data harmonization, and knowledge sharing for sustainable inland fisheries management, and is funded by the Japan Trust Fund 7.
Better data. Stronger cooperation. More informed management.
The technical visit to Sidat Labas highlighted a simple but important message: effective regional management starts with understanding what is happening on the ground and connecting that knowledge through better data.
Through continued collaboration among ASEAN Member States, research institutions, government agencies, and the private sector, the regional eel database initiative aims to contribute to stronger monitoring and the sustainable utilization of tropical anguillid eel resources across Southeast Asia