Author: Anindita Sekar Jati

The development of a responsible fishing industry requires contributions from various parties, ranging from consumers, distributors, retailers, to fishermen. Committing to support and contribute to the development of a sustainable fishing industry should be an individual obligation, given the current state of nature and the increasing trend of sustainable products. Awareness of the importance of responsible products can be done in various ways, one of which is through festival events.

On Sunday, October 25, 2015, Surya University in collaboration with the Indonesian Organic Community, organized the Sustainable Food Festival, at Lippo Mal Puri Indah, Jakarta. In the event, WWF-Indonesia participated through a talk show to provide an understanding for the public on the importance of sustainable products and relate it to the current condition of nature in Indonesia.

Margareth Meutia, as WWF Footprint Campaign Coordinator, urged the audience to be smart consumers because consumers contribute greatly in changing the market for sustainable product demand. In addition, Dwi Aryo, as WWF Marine & Fisheries Campaign Coordinator, also added a series of information related to the importance of sustainable fisheries practices, and invited consumers to ask the origin of seafood consumed. He also urged visitors to always carry a Seafood Guide to know which seafood is the best choice, in terms of species, fishing gear and origin.

In addition to the talkshow, the event also featured a series of bazaars that showcased products sourced through environmentally friendly practices. Fish 'n Blues, a brand of PT SEA Indonesia member Seafood Savers, also took part in the bazaar by selling its seafood products. Fish 'n Blues itself is the first retailer in Indonesia to sell eco-friendly seafood to consumers.

As part of the talk show, WWF gave awards to parties that have committed to care more about the origin of the seafood products they serve to consumers.

Two hotels, Shangri-La Hotel Jakarta and InterContinetal Hotel Bali, received the "Awarding of Retailer Commitment to Seafood Traceability" award for their efforts to seek more information about the supply chain of their seafood products. In addition, Shangri-La Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability Manager, Bintari Rarastiwi emphasized that Shangri-La has also removed shark fin products from the hotel's menu as part of its commitment to sustainable fisheries. In addition to the two hotels, Fish 'n Blues also received a similar award because in its business, Fish 'n Blues applies the principles of sustainable fisheries practices and seeks to provide traceability information on the seafood products they sell to consumers.

This award is expected to be an encouragement for the awardees to further engage in the process of improving responsible fisheries in Indonesia. Such involvement can be in the form of contribution with Seafood Savers and taking part in fisheries improvement, as the future of Indonesian fisheries depends on all levels of society, including retailers and consumers.¬¬