Jakarta (12/4) WWF-Indonesia published a complete set of sustainable fisheries guidelines for Fisheries Better Management Practices in a number of major fisheries commodities, for instance groupers, snappers, shrimps, tuna and tilapia. Firtsly published in Indonesia, those documents provide practical fisheries guidelines and recommendations which are easily applied by fisheries actors; fishermen, farmers and fisheries companies.

WWF’s BMPs for Sustainable Fisheries are arranged based on the learning experiences of WWF-Indonesia’s fisheries team, together with the fishermen and trained farmers in a number of WWF-Indonesia’s sites, such as Tarakan and Berau in East Kalimantan, Aceh, Danau Toba – North Sumatra, Wakatobi – Southeast Sulawesi, Solor Alor – East Nusa Tenggara, Bali, and Bitung – North Sulawesi. Moreover, the documents also refer to certification principles for sustainable fisheries that is supported by WWF, namely Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for capture fisheries and Aquaculture Stweardship Council (ASC) for aquaculture fisheries.

“WWF’s BMPs for Sustainable Fisheries are different with other similar guidelines since they emphasize both sustainability aspect and operational level,” said Imam Musthofa Zainuddin, WWF-Indonesia National Fisheries Program Leader, at the press conference organized to mark the launching of The Series of Better Management Practices for Sustainable Fisheries in WWF-Indonesia’s office on Thursday, 26 April 2012.

As one of several guidelines addressing issues on the sustainablility of fish resources, WWF’s BMPs for Sustainable Fisheries gained positive response from the government. “BMPs for Sustainable Fisheries developed by WWF are aligned with current fisheries trends in which fish capturing process does not only consider the quality of the product but also ensure the implementation of eco-friendly practices, in accordance to Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) of FAO which has been applied by Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF),” said Ir. Endroyono, Deputy Director of Fishing Gear Construction and Feasibility, Directorate of Fishing Vessels and Gears, MMAF.

“The guidelines of sustainable fisheries are essential to ensure the stock of fish resources in the long term as well as the welfare of fishermen, their families, and the surrounding coastal communities,” said Aditya Utama, ANOVA Asia Sustainablility Manager.

Furthermore, WWF’S BMPs for Sustainable Fisheries will continue to be updated and revised based on the development of fishery activities and inputs from the fisheries actors and experts. “WWF published the BMPs to set a minimum standard for sustainable fisheries practices, which incorporate environment and sustainability aspects. Fisheries practitioners could give further inputs on these BMPs in order to promote the implementation of better fisheries management and practices in Indonesia,” said Imam Musthofa closing the press conference.

Notes to Editor:
The electronic version of BMPs can be downloaded here: http://www.wwf.or.id/bmp_fisheries

About WWF-Indonesia:
WWF-Indonesia is an independent part of WWF network and its affiliate, the world’s largest global conservation organizations that works in 100 countries. WWF-Indonesia’s ultimate goal is to stop and eventually reverse environmental degradation and to build a future where people live in harmony with nature. WWF-Indonesia's mission includes: Promoting strong conservation ethics, awareness and actions in Indonesia society; facilitating multi-stakeholders efforts to preserve biodiversity & ecological processes on eco-regional scale; advocating for policies, law and law enforcement that support conservation; and promoting conservation for the well-being of people, through sustainable use of natural resources. (www.wwf.or.id)

WWF-Indonesia Fisheries Program Strategies aim at ensuring the sustainability of fish resources to promote sustainable fisheries industry.

For more information, contact:

• Imam Musthofa, WWF-Indonesia Marine Program. National Fisheries Program Leader, +62 (0)8123853921 imusthofa@wwf.or.id
• Dewi Satriani, WWF-Indonesia Marine Program. Communications and Outreach Manager +62 (0)811 910 970, dsatriani@wwf.or.id
• Margareth Meutia, WWF-Indonesia Marine Program. Senior Corporate campaigner. +62 (0)8158812844, mmeutia@wwf.or.id