By Davidson Rato Nono

National network of sustainable fisheries or commonly known as JARING-Nusantara is the network initiated by WWF-Indonesia along with 12 other foundations or local NGOs spread all over Indonesia.This network is established based on the same vision and mission, and as a response to declining fishery resources, poor fishery management and governance, increased threat to food security, and the growing seafood consumption within the nation as well as on a global scale. JARING-Nusantara is hoped to bridge the gaps and bring solutions to the issues in Indonesian coastal areas and waters.

WWF-Indonesia held training on sustainable fisheries in early February, 2013 along with local foundations or NGOs spread all over Indonesia and based in coastal areas, and/or giving assistances to fisher/farmer groups. The training agendas were mostly the dissemination of Better Management Practices (BMPs) for capture fisheries as well as aquaculture and other presentations that emphasized the importance of ecolabel certification. At the end of the training, the local NGOs and WWF-Indonesia made commitment to undertake fisheries improvement program in Indonesia through the establishment of JARING-Nusantara. The 12 NGOs joined in the national network of sustainable fisheries are Yayasan Berau Lestari (Berau-East Kalimantan), CAC Kesuma Bangsa (Aceh), FORKANI (Wakatobi), KOMUNTO (Wakatobi), Koalisi untuk Advokasi Laut Aceh, Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia (East Java), Yayasan Mattirotasi (Makassar), Yayasan Konservasi Laut (Makassar), Yayasan Reef Check Indonesia (Bali), Komunitas Peduli Gizi dan Lingkungan (Sidoarjo), Yayasan TAKA (Semarang), and Yayasan Bahari (Kendari). Up to now, there are about 18 local NGOs engaged in JARING-Nusantara.

The network emerged on February 2, 2013 has two main goals: to improve fisheries resources management through various improvement efforts to ensure the sustainability of the national fisheries resources and to create and strengthen seafood businesses and practices to ensure responsible and sustainable practices as well as equitable access.

Following up the establishment of JARING-Nusantara, pre-assessment was undertaken in each fishery under the assistance of JARING-Nusantara members to identify the fishing practices employed by the fishers. 8 local NGOs have finalized the pre-assessment and developed fisheries improvement plan.

It is hoped that JARING-Nusantara will keep facilitating the provision of seafood products certified by/using ecolabel of MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) and/or ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) in Indonesia through WWF-Indonesia, or in the other word creating sustainable and responsible seafood products as a way to safeguard seafood resources and to protect people’s livelihoods in Indonesia.