By Ninish Fajrina and Novita Eka Syaputri
Following up on the commitment of various parties to create better fisheries management, on February 18, the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries inaugurated an indicator assessment guide for the implementation of Ecosystem Approach Fisheries Management (EAFM). The inauguration was held in conjunction with the launch of the Fisheries Management Plan (RPP) for the Republic of Indonesia Fisheries Management Area 718 (WPP-NRI 718) which was held at the Mina Bahari 3 Building of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Globally, all fisheries practices are carried out responsibly based on the norms of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) 1995. Through its principles, EAFM will ensure the sustainable availability of fish resources in Indonesia and become an integrated fisheries management practice by considering harmony with ecosystem dynamics and sectoral harmonization. The planning and implementation of EAFM was overseen by WWF-Indonesia's Sunda Banda Seascape and Fisheries Team in collaboration with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the Center for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies - Bogor Agricultural University (PKSPL-IPB), and other fisheries stakeholders.

The application of EAFM to Indonesian fisheries practices will further increase fisheries production and strengthen the competitiveness of capture fisheries products in the international market. This will also reduce the embargo of Indonesian capture fisheries products in the international market.

The EAFM indicator will be a tool to evaluate the effectiveness of fisheries management in Indonesia. "The ecosystem approach to fisheries management is very important to be implemented in Indonesia as one of the important management references, towards sustainable Indonesian fisheries for the welfare of the community," said the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sharif C. Sutardjo at the event.