APEC Project Database

Project Title

Research and Workshop on Digital Transformation in Small and Medium- Scale Aquaculture: Diagnosis, Barriers, and Opportunities in APEC Economies

Project Year

2025

Project Number

OFWG_202_2025

Project Session

Session 2

Project Type

Standard

Project Status

Project in Implementation

Project No.

OFWG_202_2025

Project Title

Research and Workshop on Digital Transformation in Small and Medium- Scale Aquaculture: Diagnosis, Barriers, and Opportunities in APEC Economies

Project Status

Project in Implementation

Fund Account

General Project Account

Sub-fund

None

Project Year

2025

Project Session

Session 2

APEC Funding

35,000

Co-funding Amount

Total Project Value

35,000

Sponsoring Forum

Oceans and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG)

Topics

Food Security; Digital Technology and Innovation; Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

Committee

SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE)

Other Fora Involved

Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved

Proposing Economy(ies)

Peru

Co-Sponsoring Economies

Chile; China; Russia; Chinese Taipei; Thailand

Expected Start Date

01/03/2026

Expected Completion Date

30/06/2027

Project Proponent Name 1

José Edgardo Allemant Sayan

Job Title 1

General Director of Aquaculture

Organization 1

Ministry of Production

Telephone 1

+5116162222

Email 1

jallemant@produce.gob.pe

Project Proponent Name 2

Fabricio Flores Ysla

Job Title 2

Director of Aquaculture Management

Organization 2

Ministry of Production

Telephone 2

+5116162222

Email 2

eflores@produce.gob.pe

Declaration

José Edgardo Allemant Sayan

Project Summary

The project seeks to drive digital transformation in small- and medium-scale aquaculture in APEC economies through research and a virtual workshop.

Experiences, barriers, and good practices will be compiled to strengthen public policies and support programs. The project will encourage the participation of producers and stakeholders involved in initiatives in rural communities. The project will promote the exchange of knowledge and digital solutions to achieve more sustainable, innovative, and resilient aquaculture, in line with APEC 2025 priorities and Putrajaya Vision 2040.

Relevance

Benefits

Small- and medium-scale aquaculture plays a key role in food security, job creation, and local economic development in many APEC economies. However, it faces significant challenges in incorporating digital technologies that improve its efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. The main barriers include a lack of connectivity, limited technical capacity, limited access to adapted digital tools, and outdated regulatory frameworks. These limitations hinder traceability, production management, and market access. A regional assessment is needed to identify gaps and opportunities, as well as the exchange of successful experiences to guide effective public policies in this strategic sector for the region's food security.

Eligibility and Fund Priorities

The project meets the eligibility criteria established in the APEC General Project Account (GPA) for 2025, by directly contributing to inclusive and sustainable growth in the aquaculture sector. It aligns with the APEC 2025 theme, “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper,” by promoting the exchange of knowledgeand experiences across economies, encouraging the application of digital tools to modernize small- and medium-scale aquaculture, and strengthening the capacities of producers and public officials. It also responds to the Putrajaya 2040 Vision and the Aotearoa Action Plan by facilitating the digital transformation of traditional sectors, bridging the technological gap, and promoting more resilient and sustainable economic development, particularly in developing economies. The project's collaborative and multi-sectoral approach will strengthen regional cooperation on public policies aimed at innovation and inclusion in aquaculture.

Capacity Building

This project aims to strengthen the institutional and individual capacities of APEC member economies—particularly those in developing economies—to promote the digital transformation of small- and medium-scale aquaculture. To achieve this, a research report will be developed, compiling experiences in digitalization, technological innovations, and identified barriers and enablers across APEC economies. In addition, a workshop will be held to engage policymakers, technical officers, and analysts from relevant agencies to discuss and validate findings, share national strategies and existing tools, and co-develop policy-oriented recommendations.

Through this project, participants will be encouraged to share digital strategies, public programs, and pilot initiatives aimed at improving the productivity, traceability, environmental sustainability, and resilience of the aquaculture sector. This exchange will facilitate the comparison of best practices, the identification of common challenges, and the proposal of scalable and replicable models across the region.

The project will also deliver a practical research brief with key technical and policy recommendations, thus generating long-term impact by enhancing the ability of APEC economies to plan and implement targeted digital transformation programs for small- scale aquaculture producers. Furthermore, it will promote cooperation between developed and developing economies, fostering regional knowledge exchange and innovation transfer.

Objectives

The project aims to identify opportunities, barriers, and best practices in the digital transformation of small- and medium-scale aquaculture in APEC economies. It seeks to strengthen the capacities of policymakers and sector stakeholders through a regional study and a virtual workshop, promoting the exchange of experiences, technical cooperation, and the development of policy-oriented recommendations. The project will contribute to a more innovative, sustainable, and inclusive aquaculture, in line with APEC 2025 priorities and the principles of the Putrajaya Vision 2040.

Alignment

Beneficiaries and Outputs

Output

1) Research Report

This research report will compile and analyze policies, plans, projects, and experiences that promote the adoption of digital and technological tools across the aquaculture value chain. The study will be prepared by a specialized consultant, who will design and implement surveys and interviews to collect information from APEC economies, complemented by secondary data from international organizations.

It is expected that at least five economies out of the twenty-one APEC members will provide substantive input to the consultant. The final report will have a minimum length of 60 pages excluding annexes and will include a comparative analysis of public policies, support programs, barriers, and good practices related to digital transformation in aquaculture.

The research report will also integrate a gender perspective, assessing women’s participation in digitalization processes and its impact on sustainability and innovation in the aquaculture sector. It will include practical and replicable policy recommendations to enhance the digital development of small and medium-scale aquaculture enterprises in the APECregion.

The research report will be structured as follows: Objective, Participants, Survey Development, Interview Process, Analysis of Results, Findings, Recommendations, and Conclusions.

This document will serve as a key technical reference and input for the regional capacity-building virtual workshop.

2) Capacity Building Workshop

A two-day virtual capacity building workshop will be held in October 2026, bringing together experts, government officials, policymakers, and representatives from the private and academic sectors of APEC economies. The event will provide a platform to share experiences, identify opportunities, and develop recommendations to accelerate digital adoption in aquaculture.

Participation will be open to all APEC economies, with special emphasis on developing members. At least 35% of participants will be women, and a target of 50% female speakers or panelists will be pursued. The workshop will be recorded to support the preparation of the final report, and a post- event evaluation survey will be conducted, including gender-disaggregated indicators and a specific question on whether the workshop adequately addressed gender-related aspects of digital transformation.

Tentative agenda:

Day 1: Presentation by experts on digital transformation in aquaculture; presentation of the research report results; discussion and comments from participants and APEC economies.

Day 2: Group work to develop technical and policy recommendations; summary of conclusions; post-event evaluation survey including gender- related satisfaction indicators.

The workshop outcomes will be systematized and used to formulate actionable recommendations on how APEC economies can design and implement inclusive and sustainable public policies and programs that promote digitalization in aquaculture.

3) Final Report

Upon project completion, a final report (minimum 30 pages excluding annexes) will be produced, consolidating the analytical findings from both the research report and the capacity building workshop. The final report will summarize the measures, policies, and programs that APEC economies have developed to promote digital transformation among micro and small aquaculture producers, highlighting the most impactful and replicable initiatives.

In addition, the final report will provide policy recommendations and implementation strategies that APEC economies can apply during the planning and execution of programs aimed at supporting the digitalization and sustainability of aquaculture enterprises.

This final report will be reviewed and endorsed by the APEC Oceans and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG) and published electronically as an official APEC publication. It will serve as a regional technical reference to inform future initiatives focused on innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable aquaculture development across the Asia-Pacific region.

Outcome

1) Strengthened policies and support mechanisms for digital transformation in aquaculture: The project is expected to provide comprehensive knowledge about the importance, benefits, impacts, challenges, and achievements related to the digital transformation of small- and medium-scale aquaculture producers across the value chain. The research will identify and analyze existing policies, programs, and initiatives that promote the adoption of digital technologies in aquaculture, highlighting those that could be replicated or scaled up within the APEC region.

This outcome will strengthen the collective understanding among APEC economies of how digital innovation can contribute to improvingproductivity, sustainability, and inclusiveness in aquaculture. By learning from successful initiatives and understanding their impacts, economies will be better positioned to design and implement more effective strategies and cooperation mechanisms for advancing digital transformation in the aquaculture sector.

2) Strengthened and improved capacities of participants from the Virtual Workshop: The project will also contribute to enhancing the technical and institutional capacities of workshop participants through the exchange of experiences and knowledge on the current state of digital transformation in small- and medium-scale aquaculture. The virtual workshop will allow participants from APEC member economies to share, discuss, and compare national strategies, policy tools, and outcomes related to digitalization efforts, enabling them to identify best practices and develop policy-oriented recommendations.

This interaction will strengthen collaboration and dialogue among APEC economies, fostering a regional learning process that supports the modernization and digital inclusion of aquaculture producers.

3) Promotion of practical application of the Final Report recommendations: The project will promote the practical application of the recommendations derived from the Final Report in future policy and program development processes supporting the digital transformation of small- and medium-scale aquaculture enterprises. The adoption of these recommendations will encourage APEC economies to integrate digital technologies into aquaculture management, capacity building, and market access strategies, contributing to a more innovative and sustainable sector.

The effectiveness of these outcomes will be assessed through participant feedback surveys conducted after the workshop, evaluating knowledge gained, satisfaction levels, and the perceived relevance of digital transformation measures discussed.

Beneficiaries

The direct institutional beneficiaries of the project include, among others, technical institutions, government agencies, or ministries responsible for aquaculture management and digital transformation in APEC economies. This encompasses ministries or agencies in charge of fisheries, aquaculture, trade, industry, technology, or innovation, as well as marine, fisheries, and technology research institutions. The participating representatives are expected to be technical-level or decision-making specialists with experience in managing modernization and digitalization programs in the aquaculture sector.

The project will provide evidence, policy recommendations, and practical tools to help these institutions improve or design new initiatives and support programs for the digital transformation of small- and medium-scale aquaculture producers, promoting a more inclusive, sustainable, and efficient aquaculture sector.

The direct individual beneficiaries include mid- and high-level policymakers, technical officers, and analysts involved in the planning, implementation, or monitoring of digital strategies in the aquaculture sector, who will either attend the capacity building workshop or receive the research report through institutional channels.

In the long term, beneficiaries will include developing APEC economies, small-scale producer associations, aquaculture cooperatives, technology innovators, and value chain operators, who will benefit from more enabling regulatory environments for digitalization and improved access to technologies tailored to their production scale.

Dissemination

The Final Report will be published as an official APEC Publication and made available on the APEC Publications page, in accordance with the APEC Publication Guidelines. The link to the publication will also be shared with other relevant APEC fora and all member economies through the APEC Secretariat.

The Final Report will be prepared in full accordance with the APEC Publication Guidelines, the APEC Publication Toolkit, and the APEC Logo Guidelines, following APEC’s official standards for structure, writing style, and nomenclature as requiredby the APEC Secretariat.

The Final Report is also expected to be shared through institutional websites, press releases, and digital communication channels as appropriate, following the APEC Social Media Guidelines and close consultation with APEC Secretariat to enhance project visibility and promote engagement among APEC economies.

In addition, the final report will be disseminated through the institutional websites of Peru’s Ministry of Production and partner entities, including the Aquaculture Information Network of Peru and its technical journal, as well as other specialized or academic outlets in the aquaculture and innovation fields.

All research materials and outputs generated by this project will remain the intellectual property of APEC. Any external publication will require a copyright license agreement under the APEC Intellectual Property Policy. Such a license will not require payment to APEC unless the copyrighted material is used for profit-making purposes, in which case a reasonable royalty or license fee would apply. The license will take effect only after the first official publication of the work by APEC.

Gender

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Work Plan

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Risks

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Linkages

The project will collaborate with other relevant APEC fora to strengthen cross-sectoral coordination. The Policy Partnership on Food Security (PPFS) will be engaged to align aquaculture digitalization with sustainable food systems; the Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group (SMEWG) will benefit from lessons on digital innovation among aquaculture MSMEs; the Digital Economy Steering Group (DESG) will contribute to advancing digital inclusion and market access; and the Telecommunications and Information Working Group (TELWG) will support efforts to improve connectivity and ICT adoption in rural aquaculture areas. These linkages will promote cross-fora cooperation and enhance APEC’s collective actions toward inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.

In addition, synergies will be fostered with previous and current APEC projects related to value chain digitalization and rural innovation.

Externally, technical collaboration and validation of results will be sought with international organizations and networks specialized in innovation and digital transformation. The participation of technological research centers and universities with experience in aquaculture and digitalization will also be encouraged to enrich the technical analysis and strengthen the project's regional applicability.

These partnerships will facilitate the dissemination of the project's results, its scalability, and its sustainability in the medium and long term.

Sustainability

The most significant outcome of the project will be the lessons learned by participants, who will apply the knowledge gained to strengthen policies, programs, and strategies that promote the digital transformation of small- and medium-scale aquaculture.

Accordingly, all workshop materials, including presentations, conclusions, and the project’s Final Report, will be made digitally available for use by participants, APEC economies, and other stakeholders from the public, academic, and private sectors.

The Project Overseer will conduct post-project follow-up by maintaining communication with participants and institutional representatives through email and professional networks. This engagement will help identify progress in implementing the project’s recommendations and encourage continued technical cooperation among economies.

To monitor the implementation of the project’s recommendations, a follow-up survey will be conducted after project completion to gather information on the measures taken, results achieved, and areas where additional support may be needed. The findings will be summarized in the LTEAP as part of APEC’s post-project monitoring process.

Direct Labour

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Are there any supporting document attached?

Yes

Project No.
Project Title
Project Status
Fund Account
Sub-fund
Project Year
Project Session
APEC Funding
Co-funding Amount
Total Project Value
Sponsoring Forum
Topics
Committee
Other Fora Involved
Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved
Proposing Economy(ies)
Co-Sponsoring Economies
Expected Start Date
Expected Completion Date
Project Proponent Name 1
Job Title 1
Organization 1
Telephone 1
Email 1
Project Proponent Name 2
Job Title 2
Organization 2
Telephone 2
Email 2
Declaration
Project Summary
Relevance
Objectives
Alignment
Beneficiaries and Outputs
Dissemination
Gender
Work Plan
Risks
Monitoring and Evaluation
Linkages
Sustainability
Direct Labour
Are there any supporting document attached?
hdFldAdmin
Project Number
Previous Fora
Secretariat Comments
Reprogramming Notes
Consolidated QAF
Endorsement By Fora
PD Sign Off
Batch
Forum Priority
Committee Ranking Category
Committee Priority
PDM Priority
Priority Within Funding Category
Monitoring Report Received
Completion Report Received
PMU Field 1
PMU Field 2
PMU Field 3
On Behalf Of
Proposal Status
Originating Sub-Forum
Approval Status
Attachments

Content Type: Standard Proposal