The commitment to responsible and sustainable shrimp farming practices is once again yielding tangible results. One of WWF-Indonesia’s partner companies, PT Winaros Kawula Bahari, has successfully obtained ecolabel certification Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Shrimp Standard for Vannamei shrimp on May 1, 2026. With this achievement, PT Winaros has become one of seven ASC-certified shrimp farming companies in East Java.

Shrimp is one of the strategic commodities in Indonesia’s fisheries sector and a major contributor to export revenue. Based on export data for the January–September 2025 period, the value of Indonesia’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.397 billion, with the United States remaining the primary destination market, accounting for 63.1% of total national exports. Among the various types of shrimp traded, vannamei shrimp is the leading commodity, with one of its production centers located on the island of Java (kkp.go.id). One of the regions producing vannamei shrimp on the island of Java is Probolinggo Regency in East Java, which recorded a production of 12,471.84 metric tons in 2025 (Probolinggo Regency BPS, 2026).

Amid growing global market demand for sustainable and traceable fishery products, the implementation of responsible aquaculture standards has become an unavoidable necessity. One approach that can be implemented is through the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) ecolabel certification, a global standard designed to ensure environmentally and socially responsible aquaculture practices. ASC certification provides added value to businesses by enhancing their reputation, credibility, and consumer trust in their products.

As part of efforts to drive the transformation of Indonesia’s aquaculture sector toward more sustainable practices, WWF-Indonesia, through Seafood Savers, is assisting aquaculture companies in meeting ASC certification requirements. One of the companies participating in this support program is PT Winaros Kawula Bahari, which joined the Aquaculture Improvement Program (AIP)—a program focused on improving aquaculture practices based on ASC’s sustainability principles—in August 2024.

The company manages a shrimp farm in Probolinggo that has been in operation since the 1990s. Intensive vannamei shrimp farming at this location has been conducted since 2012 under the name PT Surya Windu Pertiwi. In 2024, the company began using the name PT Winaros as the corporate name listed in legal documents. Since taking over management, the company has gradually implemented various improvements to enhance the sustainability of pond operations while meeting ASC certification requirements.

During the mentoring process, the company implemented various improvements to meet the ASC Shrimp standards, particularly in environmental management and strengthening administrative aspects. Optimization of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) was achieved by installing bamboo screens—woven bamboo partitions designed to trap suspended solids and slow the flow of wastewater.

This simple innovation helped improve effluent water quality, reduce the potential for pollution, and extend water retention time to meet the 6–9-hour requirement. Based on monitoring results, the IMHOFF value of the wastewater was recorded at 0.3 mL/L, indicating a low concentration of settled suspended solids. This suggests that the wastewater treatment process is functioning well and is effective in mitigating the risk of environmental pollution.

As part of its ongoing improvement efforts, the company is carrying out mangrove planting as part of its CSR program. From 2022 to 2026, a total of 43,875 mangrove seedlings were planted in an area of approximately 1 hectare in Jabungsisir Village, Paiton District. The initial planting (2022–2024) was carried out along the riverbank with a spacing of 50 cm to reduce the risk of the seedlings being washed away, while in 2025–2026, 8,000 seedlings were planted in a more sheltered area with a spacing of 1 meter.

After nearly two years of collaboration with Seafood Savers, PT Winaros finally succeeded in obtaining ASC certification for its 7.18-hectare vannamei shrimp farm managed by the company in Bandaran Village, Probolinggo Regency, East Java. This achievement not only benefits the company but also contributes to improving the quality of shrimp farming management in the region. In 2025, PT Winaros’s vannamei shrimp production reached 222.74 metric tons, accounting for approximately 1.78 percent of the total vannamei shrimp production in Probolinggo Regency.

“There were quite a few challenges during the preparation for certification, as we had to handle several legal documents from the very beginning. In addition, there were also challenges in the application process for several documents, such as traceability and sustainability of feed, shrimp seed pathogen testing, and SIPA from external parties. However, through guidance from WWF, we were able to gradually bridge the existing gaps so that the audit process could proceed fairly smoothly,” said Dina, Quality Assurance at PT Winaros Kawula Bahari. “Looking ahead, obtaining ASC certification is expected to open up new business opportunities for the fisheries industry. Furthermore, compliance with ASC standards is also expected to help preserve the ecosystem in the areas surrounding the farms.”

PT Winaros Kawula Bahari’s success in obtaining ASC certification demonstrates that the implementation of sustainable aquaculture practices not only benefits the environment and local communities but also enhances the competitiveness of Indonesian fishery products in the global market. It is hoped that this achievement will inspire aquaculture businesses in Probolinggo and elsewhere to continue transforming toward a more sustainable and competitive aquaculture sector.

Information on PT Winaros Kawula Bahari’s ASC certificate can be accessed at: https://asc-aqua.org/find-a-farm/ASC03076/