SEAFDEC/AQD Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center | Aquaculture Department
The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD), an intergovernmental organization promoting sustainable aquaculture across Southeast Asia, welcomed Dr. Takahiro Sajiki as its new Deputy Chief.
A seasoned Japanese expert in fisheries economics, Dr. Sajiki was welcomed by SEAFDEC/AQD Chief Dan Baliao on 4 April 2025 at the organization’s headquarters in Tigbauan Main Station in Iloilo, Philippines.
“We are honored to welcome Dr. Sajiki to our team,” said Chief Baliao. “His background in aquaculture and economics will be instrumental as we continue aligning science with real-world solutions, making aquaculture more sustainable and economically viable for the region.”
Dr. Sajiki succeeds Dr. Sayaka Ito, who served as Deputy Chief from October 2020 to March 2025, and will hold the post until March 2027.
His appointment was endorsed by the Government of Japan and formalized by the SEAFDEC Secretary-General. Alongside his leadership duties, he will also co-manage the Japanese Trust Fund, which funds several research activities at SEAFDEC/AQD.
Dr. Sajiki brings with him a wealth of experience in fisheries research and economics. Prior to his new role, he served as Chief Scientist at the Fisheries Technology Institute of the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (J-FRA) since 2017. There, he led economic analyses of hygiene management practices in farmed shrimp in Viet Nam, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan.
From 2014 to 2017, he held leadership positions at the Fisheries Research Agency (FRA), where he focused on optimizing small-scale yellowtail farming and evaluating the profitability of new aquaculture technologies. Earlier in his career, he also held coordinating roles in research planning and public relations at the FRA.
Dr. Sajiki earned his Master of Agriculture and Doctorate of Agriculture degrees from Hokkaido University, and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship under the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) in the same university.
He remains active in research and continues to contribute to global aquaculture knowledge. His most recent science journal publications include “The Sustainable Growth of Shrimp Farming and Utilization of BMPs and Antibiotics in Sri Lanka” (2024) and “A Demand Analysis for Domestic Krill Fisheries in Japan Using Almost Ideal Demand System” (2023).
