SEAFDEC/IFRDMD Organizes the 2025 Annual Progress Meeting in Palembang
SEAFDEC/IFRDMD successfully convened the 2025 Annual Progress Meeting of the Program under the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Consultative Group Mechanism, funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan Trust Fund (JTF), on 8 December 2025 in Palembang, Indonesia. This annual meeting served as a key platform to review the progress and achievements of JTF-supported activities throughout 2025, as well as to discuss proposed activities and budget allocations for 2026. Through this event, SEAFDEC/IFRDMD continues to strengthen regional collaboration, promote transparency, and support long-term sustainability in inland fisheries management across the ASEAN region.
The meeting gathered representatives from the SEAFDEC Secretariat, Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, staff from SEAFDEC/IFRDMD, and academic experts from Universitas Sriwijaya, namely Dr. Indah Widiastuti and Dr. Mirna Fitrani, who served as external evaluators. Their role was to provide independent assessments, technical guidance, and constructive recommendations to ensure that JTF-funded initiatives remain effective, relevant, and sustainable.
The program opened with ceremonial remarks that set the direction for the discussions. Mr. Andi Soesmono, Chief of SEAFDEC/IFRDMD, delivered the report from the organizing committee, acknowledging the invaluable support of partners and evaluators and reaffirming the shared commitment to strengthening sustainable inland fisheries and improving fishers’ livelihoods across the ASEAN region. This was followed by welcome remarks from Mr. Koichi Tahara, Deputy Secretary-General of SEAFDEC, and opening remarks from Dr. I Nyoman Radiarta, SEAFDEC Alternate Council Director for Indonesia and Chairman of the Agency of Extension and Human Resources Development of Marine and Fisheries. In his address, Dr. Nyoman expressed appreciation to SEAFDEC/IFRDMD for organizing the event and to the Government of Japan and the Japan Trust Fund for their continued support toward regional inland fisheries development.
Under the current Japan Trust Fund VII (2025–2029) framework, IFRDMD is implementing two major regional projects. The first project, Enhanced Research Capacities for Sustainable Utilization and Management of Eel and Other Inland Fisheries Resources, focuses on strengthening scientific capacity through research, data collection, and analytical tool development—particularly for tropical anguillid eels that play an important role in biodiversity conservation and community livelihoods. The second project, Improving Fishers’ Livelihood and Fisheries Co-management in Inland and Coastal Small-scale Fisheries, emphasizes socio-economic improvements by promoting participatory co-management, capacity building, and livelihood enhancement for small-scale fishing communities. Together, these projects support SEAFDEC’s mandate to assist ASEAN Member States in achieving sustainable inland fisheries management, aligned with the Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region Towards 2030 (RES&POA-2030).
During the closing session, the evaluators delivered their general comments on both projects, recognizing notable progress in advancing inland fisheries research—particularly on tropical eels—and in strengthening community-based management and livelihood initiatives. They also encouraged SEAFDEC/IFRDMD to continue refining project approaches, enhancing coordination with national partners, and ensuring that outputs such as guidelines, management models, and training materials remain practical and accessible for field practitioners.
The meeting concluded with closing remarks from Mr. Toru Shimoda, Deputy Chief of SEAFDEC/IFRDMD and Co-Trust Fund Manager, who conveyed his appreciation to all contributors and reaffirmed IFRDMD’s continued commitment to sustaining and expanding the positive impacts of JTF-supported initiatives.