By Davidson Ratonono

JARING Nusantara, which is committed to environmentally friendly fisheries practices, held its first annual meeting of its members. Located in Bogor and lasting for three days, it aims to discuss the progress of the Fisheries Improvement Program (FIP) and Aquaculture Improvement Program (AIP) implementation programs in each of the assisted locations of JARING Nusantara members. This meeting was attended by 17 NGOs / Foundations from all over Indonesia, where two institutions assist aquaculture, and the rest work with capture fisheries fishermen groups.

Presentations related to fisheries improvement programs that they have been doing for their assisted groups were presented on the first day of the meeting. While on the second day, presentations on fisheries improvement were made at the locations assisted by NGOs engaged in aquaculture.

This meeting was utilized by members to convey the obstacles faced during the implementation of fisheries improvement, as well as the support needed to overcome any obstacles and problems encountered in the field. The obstacles that arise are generally destructive fishing (bombing, tranquilizers), weak supervision, lack of regulations, and marketing that is still very difficult and often unfair. After finding the constraints, a brief simulation was given on stock estimation methods using limited data. The submission of this method of stock estimation with limited data will streamline data collection time, cost and application that is not too complicated.

Refuse IUU Fishing

Not only describing what has been done and the obstacles experienced, on the last day, members received Illegal, unreported and unregulated Fisihing (IUU Fishing) material. This material is useful for JARING Nusantara members to examine fisheries involved in IUU Fishing activities. One of the problems of small-scale fisheries identified is the practice of IUU fishing itself, this practice has the potential to reduce the carrying capacity of fisheries resources and ecosystems and harm the welfare of the community. This material was delivered by Arifsyah Nasution (Greenpeace Indonesia Marine Campaigner) who is also aggressively fighting and advocating against IUU Fishing activities in Indonesia. JARING Nusantara members agreed to continue to improve fisheries and fight against IUU Fishing activities in each assisted location. With this joint agreement, it is hoped that fisheries in Indonesia will become better, more responsible, equitable and prosperous for the lives of small-scale fishers.