- Overfishing in Southeast Asia’s coastal waters is a long-standing concern, but recent research suggests a more optimistic outlook, with 43% of marine stocks classified as underfished — 3.6 times higher than the global average.
- The study, covering stocks across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, highlights the region’s relatively abundant fisheries, particularly among pelagic species, 63% of which are underfished.
- Southeast Asia’s fisheries production surged by 7.1 million metric tons from 1993 to 2022, the largest increase globally, with Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar as major contributors.
- The research underscores the importance of small-scale artisanal fisheries that use nonselective methods to target multiple species, and co-management frameworks to maintain production and sustainability.
Overfishing in Southeast Asia’s coastal waters has been reported since the 1970s, driven by overcapacity, high demand and population growth. While most studies point to the depletion of nearshore fisheries, new research offers a more optimistic outlook. Overall, it shows, fisheries in the region are in a healthier state than they are globally, with fewer stocks overfished and many more underfished.
The study, published in Fisheries Science, finds that Southeast Asia’s fisheries remain relatively abundant, with 43% of marine stocks classified as underfished, more than three times the global average. The finding draws on 105 resource assessments conducted by governments and academic researchers between 2018 and 2022 across the Indian and Pacific oceans. These assessments covered pelagic (open-ocean) fish, neritic (coastal) tuna, and demersal (bottom-dwelling) species, with 63%, 50% and 38% of their stocks classified as underfished, respectively.
“Fishery resources in Southeast Asia are still abundant,” study author Takashi Fritz Matsuishi, a fisheries science professor at Hokkaido University in Japan, told Mongabay by email. “While many studies have long pointed to overfishing in the region, these claims have not been based on comprehensive quantitative assessments.”
Southeast Asia’s 11 nations collectively span a vast swath of ocean, with a combined continental shelf area of more than 3.5 million square kilometers (1.35 million square miles) — an area larger than India — and exclusive economic zones totaling nearly 9.5 million km2 (3.7 million mi2), or the size of China. Home to coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and river deltas, the region’s waters rank among the most biodiverse on the planet.
Matsuishi’s study found that 43% of Southeast Asia’s fish stocks are underfished — 3.6 times the global average of 11.8% as shown in the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s 2024 SOFIA report. Meanwhile, 33% were overfished compared to 37.7% globally, and 24% were maximally sustainably fished compared to 50.5% globally.
“Despite high levels of production, effort, and consumption, the fishery resources remain healthy,” Matsuishi said. “We believe this is due to the region’s rich biodiversity and the prevalence of small-scale fisheries, which are more environmentally friendly and ecosystem-based” than industrial fisheries.
According to FAO data cited in Matsuishi’s study, Southeast Asia’s fisheries production rose steadily from 1950 to the late 2010s. Between 1993 and 2022, output grew by 7.1 million metric tons — the largest increase of any region globally. By 2022, Southeast Asian capture fisheries reached 18 million metric tons, making up 19% of global output. Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar are the region’s top contributors.
About 9.4 million people, or 1.4% of Southeast Asia’s population, are engaged in fisheries, more than three times the global average proportion of o.42%, the study notes. The region also leads the world in seafood consumption at 37.5 kilograms (83 pounds) per person annually, nearly double the global average.
“Mass media often focus on pessimistic narratives, such as ‘fishery resources are declining due to overfishing’ or ‘climate change is reducing catches of certain species,’” Matsuishi said. “While these issues do exist, as our study shows, overall fish catches in the region are increasing, and sustainable fisheries are still very much achievable. It is a misconception for fishers to feel guilty — thinking they are contributing to overfishing or harming the ecosystem.”
‘Unexpected’ resilience amid overfishing warnings
The study’s key finding, that the region has a much higher proportion of underfished stocks compared to the global average, is “unexpected and noteworthy,” Suttinee Limthammahisorn, a fisheries biologist and secretary-general of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), headquartered in Bangkok, told Mongabay by email. “The contrast between the ongoing warnings of overfishing in the region and the continued increase in fisheries production, despite claims of stock depletion is stand out,” she said.
Limthammahisorn said the region’s reliance on small-scale, artisanal fisheries using multispecies, nonselective fishing methods is crucial for maintaining production, and offers a “unique path toward sustainability” through co-management — where governments and local fishers share responsibility for managing resources.
“This resilience, in the face of overfishing concerns, is surprising and underscores the importance of considering the diversity of fisheries and ecosystems in the region,” she added.
Limthammahisorn said the study’s use of global and regional data from multiple sources strengthens its methodology. “Drawing on quantitative data despite the ‘data poor situation’ in many countries in the region, this is particularly impressive, as it highlights the challenges of accessing consistent and reliable data from Southeast Asian countries,” she said.
She also praised the study’s use of reliable stock assessment models. These included mixed-species models, which better reflect fish populations and ecosystem health, and lead to more accurate assessments and stronger management, than do single-species models.
However, she noted that data limitations in some countries, especially regarding the number of small-scale and part-time fishers, could lead to underreporting. “These gaps in data may obscure the true scale and impact of fisheries in these regions, potentially affecting policy and management decisions,” she added.
Strong action to preserve fisheries
Matsuishi urged Southeast Asian governments to act decisively to preserve their still-healthy fisheries. “I hope that governments will recognize that fishery resources in Southeast Asia are not in decline and will confidently implement policies aimed at maintaining the current healthy state of these resources.”
He stressed the need to prevent illegal fishing and avoid joint ventures with countries from outside the region that could lead to overexploitation. “Southeast Asian fishery resources must remain firmly under the management and jurisdiction of Southeast Asian nations,” Matsuishi said.
He added that sustainable capture fisheries are vital, as they feed the region’s fast-growing aquaculture industry. He also said governments should pay attention to the 33% of the region’s fish stocks that are overfished, warning that continued overexploitation, particularly in inshore areas where many artisanal fishers operate, could threaten local livelihoods and undermine food security for Southeast Asia’s 681 million people.
“Southeast Asian fisheries serve as a global model of sustainable fisheries,” Matsuishi said, “and it is vital that they remain healthy and resilient.”
Banner image: Fishers bring in their catch in Tran Vinh Nghia, Vietnam, in 2010. Image courtesy of United Nations Development Programme via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
Citation:
Matsuishi, T. F. (2025). Status of Southeast Asian fisheries: Distinctive characteristics and pathways to sustainable fisheries. Fisheries Science, 91(2), 205-216. doi:10.1007/s12562-025-01854-w
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