SEAFDEC/AQD Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center | Aquaculture Department
Auditors from around Southeast Asia completed an intensive training on Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP) at the Tigbauan Main Station of SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD), which ran from 23 March to 1 April 2026.
The training course gathered 10 participants from SEAFDEC member countries under an initiative of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
It aimed to enhance auditing competencies in aquaculture operations based on GaqP ASEAN standards, with the broader goal of strengthening inspection systems across the region.
SEAFDEC/AQD Chief Dan Baliao said the training “equips auditors with the necessary tools to effectively evaluate aquaculture practices and support sustainable development in the fisheries sector.”
The activity forms part of SEAFDEC/AQD’s capacity-building initiatives for fisheries professionals and its continuing efforts to promote regional cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The course tackled topics such as food safety, aquatic animal welfare, environmental integrity, socio-economic aspects, and compliance with national and international regulations.
Field demonstrations and site visits formed a core component of the training program, which allowed participants to apply auditing principles in operational aquaculture settings.
Rathi Sai Muniandy, senior fisheries officer of Malaysia’s Department of Fisheries and one of the participants, said identifying critical control points was among the most valuable lessons, noting that it helped clarify where risks occur in farm operations and how they are managed.
When she returns to her country, she will use the new audit checklists and techniques she learned during the farm visits. She also plans to explain these GAqP standards to local farmers so they can improve their harvests and meet safety requirements.
SEAFDEC/AQD, based in Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines continues to provide technical expertise and capacity-building programs to strengthen the fisheries sector in the Southeast Asian region.
