Five-year initiative will strengthen fisheries governance in the Gulf of Thailand.
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is collaborating with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and the University of Queensland to launch a regional effort to secure the long-term health of the Gulf of Thailand’s fisheries. Implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the GoTFish Project will coordinate efforts in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam to address the growing threats facing the Gulf, one of the world’s most productive marine ecosystems.
This five-year initiative, “Promoting the Blue Economy and Strengthening Fisheries Governance of the Gulf of Thailand through the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries,” will strengthen natural resource governance across the Gulf to protect marine biodiversity, rebuild fish stocks, and contribute directly to the objectives of the South China Sea Strategic Action Programme (SCS-SAP).
The project has four central components:
- Strengthening regional transboundary fisheries governance and institutional capacity
- Aligning market and behavioral incentives to support sustainable fisheries
- Conserving critical aquatic habitats through the identification of ecological corridors
- Enhancing stakeholder engagement, communication and monitoring to ensure inclusive participation and effective knowledge sharing.
As the Executing Agency for Component 2, SFP is leading efforts to leverage market influence and align buyers, suppliers and producers toward responsible resource management. This work will concentrate on two key value chains: the multi-species trawl fishery that feeds marine ingredient production and the small pelagic fishery that supplies the fish sauce sector. Efforts will include tailoring improvement frameworks for complex tropical fisheries and developing a new Responsible Seafood Sourcing Scheme where no such standard currently exists.
“The Gulf of Thailand is reaching a critical crossroads. With GoTFish, SFP is mobilizing the private sector to turn global seafood demand into a force for recovery. This project shows that when markets support responsible practices, the improvements can be deep and long-lasting,” said Pedro Ferreiro, SFP Fisheries Governance and Livelihoods Director.
Background
The Gulf of Thailand Large Marine Ecosystem (GoT LME) covers an area of 391,665 square kilometers and is categorized as a global center of shallow water marine biological diversity, featuring crucial habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass, and mangroves. It provides vital marine-based ecosystem services, including food security, nutrition, and livelihoods, critical both to coastal populations and the export economies of the neighboring countries. Approximately 838,000 people are dependent on marine fisheries in the GoT.
Every year, more than 1.8 million tonnes of fish are hauled from the GoT, an industry valued at over USD 2.2 billion. However, weak governance; overexploitation; illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; and the widespread use of non-selective gear are rapidly degrading the resource base. According to 2018 assessments, 41% of fish stocks and nearly a quarter of the entire GoT catch, roughly 420,000 tonnes, are already overexploited.
The GoTFish Project seeks to reverse the decline of overexploited marine fisheries, bringing 75% of these depleted stocks – around 315,000 tonnes – back to sustainable levels. The project will focus on three key fisheries in the Gulf: the demersal trawl fishery, the pelagic purse seine fishery, and the small-scale artisanal coastal fishery.