This project examined how digital and emerging technologies could support national and cross-border efforts to achieve and sustain responsible fisheries management in the Gulf of Thailand (GoT). Commissioned by Global System for Mobile Communications Association - Mobile for Development (GSMA M4D) for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the report identified both opportunities and challenges in deploying digital solutions to strengthen fish stock assessment, monitoring, and control and enforcement against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Covering the shared waters of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia, the study drew on a comprehensive technology landscape review and insights from regional and global experts to inform practical, technology-driven pathways toward sustainable fisheries.
The project delivered valuable insights into the challenges hindering sustainable fisheries management in the GoT, including knowledge gaps, affordability barriers for small-scale fishers, and limited institutional capacity within fisheries departments. Findings highlighted that an opportunity for impact lay in scaling accessible, mobile-based technologies, such as catch reporting apps, electronic logbooks, and Inshore Vessel Monitoring Systems (iVMS), particularly within small-scale fisheries. These outputs offered an outline for governments and development partners to design targeted pilot initiatives, demonstrating the value of digitalisation in fisheries management and building momentum for scaling sustainable practices across the region.
The Gulf of Thailand is a vital marine ecosystem which supports livelihoods and food security across the region, yet it faces mounting pressures from declining fish stocks, overfishing, climate change, and rising seafood demand.
This study examined how digital technologies could strengthen two core elements of sustainable fisheries management: stock assessment and compliance with fisheries regulations (control and enforcement). Howell Marine Consulting (HMC) conducted the analysis between August and November 2024, which included a desk review, a technology landscape assessment, and 28 semi-structured stakeholder interviews. The findings and insights from which informed and complemented GSMA M4D’s in-country roundtable discussions and wider analysis.
The research revealed regional challenges, including data fragmentation, financial barriers for small-scale fishers, and mistrust around data governance and usage by authorities. Ten digital technologies, ranging from Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) and mobile applications to emerging tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain, were shortlisted and evaluated through a SWOT analysis based on cost, scalability, and operational readiness. The analysis found that the most promising opportunities for scaling digital solutions lay in low-cost, practical tools suitable for small-scale fisheries managed at the provincial level. The resulting report presented a detailed opportunity analysis and clear, actionable headline recommendations for governments, regional organisations, technology providers, and donors on how to effectively deploy digital technologies to advance fisheries sustainability across the Gulf of Thailand.
Read GSMA’s report here.
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