7-YEAR REFLECTION ON INDONESIA'S PUSH TO IMPROVE TUNA FISHERIES
"By: Saraswati Adityarini (Capture Fisheries Officer, WWF-Indonesia)
Tuna is one of the important commodities in Indonesian fisheries. Tuna products have the second largest export value and volume after shrimp (KKP RI, 2017). Now, Indonesia is challenged with increasing international market pressure to obtain fishery products that have been certified with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) ecolabel.
To achieve MSC, since 2011, the Indonesian government, together with various stakeholders in tuna fisheries, developed a fisheries improvement program (FIP).
Various tuna fisheries improvement activities in Indonesia have also been implemented since 2012 within the FIP corridor, with some progress being monitored regularly.
A 2015 review of the tuna FIP showed that Indonesia had achieved 21 of the 50 targeted milestones.
Notably, to date, there have been several positive developments led by the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF). These include the development of a fisheries utilization strategy (harvest strategy)in Indonesian archipelagic waters, and the decision to form a steering ccommittee for the tuna fisheries FIP.
The Steering committee consists of various institutions that act as facilitators for FIP implementation in various regions in Indonesia. The FIP Steering Committee meeting in October 2016 itself has resulted in an agreement to discuss the progress of harvest strategy and utilization control rules (harvest cccontrol rules). Not only that, improving fishermen's compliance in filling out catch records (logbook) and stock assessment was also on the meeting agenda.
Indonesia's Tuna Fisheries Improvement Program Today
After more than 7 years of FIPs being implemented in various regions in Indonesia, a pre-assessment was held, as a step to obtain the latest information regarding the progress of the implementation of improvement programs on tuna fisheries activities in Indonesia.
This pre-assessment study includes information on fish stocks and utilization, the effect of fisheries on ecosystems, and fisheries management on madidihang, bigeye tuna, skipjack, and tuna caught using longline, huhate, tuna longline, tonda, purse seine > 30 GT, purse seine < 30 GT in Indonesian waters.
The results of the FIP review study and workshop pre-assessment were socialized on 20-21/08/2018, facilitated by WWF-Indonesia as a partner in overseeing the improvement of tuna fisheries in Indonesia, together with the Sub Directorate of SDI ZEEI and High Seas Directorate of Fish Resource Management (PSDI) Directorate General of Capture Fisheries (DJPT), KKP RI, and assisted by Richard Banks. The event, held at Grand Savero, Bogor, was attended by central and local governments, companies, associations, and NGOs as FIP facilitators. What was the outcome of the discussion?
Read More: Here are 5 Targets for Indonesia to Improve Sustainable Tuna Fisheries
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