Sustainable Fisheries and Small-Scale Ports: Supporting Livelihoods and Seafood Markets

Fisheries and small-scale ports are vital to coastal economies across Southeast Asia. They support millions of livelihoods, strengthen food security, and connect fishing communities to domestic and international seafood markets. Though smaller than major commercial ports, these local harbors play a critical role in sustaining coastal communities and enabling access to markets and services.

At the same time, fisheries ports operate in a changing landscape shaped by climate pressures, environmental degradation, and rising expectations for transparency, traceability, and responsible sourcing. Stronger governance, fisheries management, and supply chain transparency will be essential to protecting livelihoods while maintaining access to global seafood markets. 

This session explores how small-scale ports can support sustainable fisheries through stronger governance, better monitoring and traceability, and improved practices across the seafood supply chain in Southeast Asia.

This webinar is the fifth in the Green Ports Webinar Series, organized by the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF) and hosted by the Southeast Asia Development Solutions platform and Development Asia of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

ACGF is an ASEAN Infrastructure Fund initiative that supports governments in Southeast Asia to prepare and finance infrastructure projects that advance environmental sustainability and strengthen climate resilience. ACGF is owned by ASEAN governments and ADB.

Speakers

• Anne Gabriel, Program Director, Oceania and Singapore, The Marine Stewardship Council 
• Matt Watson, Senior Fisheries Program Manager, Asia Pacific, The Marine Stewardship Council 
• Francisco Blaha, Senior Fisheries Advisor 
• Moderator: Jackie Spiteri, Managing Director, SESG; ADB Consultant