Fisheries Economist Joins SEAFDEC/AQD as Deputy Chief

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD), has appointed Dr. Takahiro Sajiki as its new deputy chief.

SEAFDEC/AQD is an intergovernmental organization that promotes sustainable aquaculture across Southeast Asia.

Dr. Sajiki, a seasoned Japanese expert in fisheries economics, was welcomed by SEAFDEC/AQD Chief Dan Baliao on April 4, 2025, at the organization’s Tigbauan Main Station in Iloilo, Philippines.

“We are honored to welcome Dr. Sajiki to our leadership team,” said Baliao.

“His background in aquaculture and economics will be instrumental as we continue aligning science with real-world solutions, making aquaculture more sustainable and economically viable for the region.”

Dr. Sajiki succeeds Dr. Sayaka Ito, who served as deputy chief from October 2020 to March 2025.

He will hold the post until March 2027.

His appointment was endorsed by the government of Japan and formalized by the SEAFDEC secretary-general.

In addition to his leadership role, he will co-manage the Japanese Trust Fund, which supports several research activities at SEAFDEC/AQD.

Dr. Sajiki brings extensive experience in fisheries research and economics.

Before his new role, he served as chief scientist at the Fisheries Technology Institute of the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (J-FRA) since 2017.

There, he led economic analyses on hygiene management practices in farmed shrimp in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan.

From 2014 to 2017, he held leadership roles at the Fisheries Research Agency, focusing on optimizing small-scale yellowtail farming and evaluating the profitability of new aquaculture technologies.

Earlier in his career, he also coordinated research planning and public relations efforts at the agency.

Dr. Sajiki earned his Master of Agriculture and Doctor of Agriculture degrees from Hokkaido University.

He also completed a postdoctoral research fellowship under the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science at the same university.

He remains active in research and continues to contribute to global aquaculture knowledge.

His recent publications include “The Sustainable Growth of Shrimp Farming and Utilization of BMPs and Antibiotics in Sri Lanka” (2024) and “A Demand Analysis for Domestic Krill Fisheries in Japan Using Almost Ideal Demand System” (2023).