Head of Research and Development Division and also Special Departmental Coordinator of SEAFDEC/IFRDMD, Dr. Dina Muthmainnah Gofar, spent a fortnight in Japan to take part in the program on “Training on small-scale fisheries, women’s participation in fisheries, and survey method in inland fisheries” with support from the Japanese Trust Fund. Being organized by Marino Forum21 of Japan during 20 July to 2 August 2024, the program was aimed at enhancing the capacity of SEAFDEC/IFRDMD staff working in accordance with training activities and establishing a network with resource persons from universities and fisheries institutions in Japan for future communication and collaboration on small-scale inland fisheries, including the women roles and survey method in inland waters fisheries.
The training activity took place at Graduate School of Kuroshio Science – Kochi University (under supervision Assoc. Prof. Mina Hori, Ph.D.), Department Japanese Food Studies – Faculty of Agricultural and Food Science – Kyoto Prefectural University (under supervision Prof. Dr. Satoshi Ishikawa), and the Freshwater Biology Institute at Nagano University (under supervision Prof. Hiroshi Hakoyama, Ph.D. and Assoc. Prof. Sakie Kodama, Ph.D.).
During that period, study visits and discussions were arranged also for her to learn on the roles and experiences of various agencies in Japan, i.e. Ainan Fishery Cooperative Association, Hirome Market, and “The Sea, People, and Life Network” (with Prof. Izumi Seki, Ph.D. from Department of Humanities – School of Humanities – Tokai University, and Ms. Katori Hiroko).
The training course culminated with a study visit to the Fisheries Agency (FA) of Japan (welcomed by Ms. Sayako Takeda, Director of Overseas Fisheries Cooperation Office – International Affairs Division, and her staff), and Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA) of Japan (greeted by Dr. Ichiro Nakayama, President of FRA and his staff).
Through this training, the IFRDMD staff acquainted with measures and tools that are used to small-scale fisheries, women participation as well as the measures being applied for management of freshwater fish resources and its conservation that could also be applicable for countries in the Southeast Asian region.