Despite being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia continues to achieve impressive accomplishments on a global level.

One notable achievement is the acquisition of international eco-label certification in the fisheries and marine sector, specifically the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification in the tuna fisheries sector.

The MSC is the world's leading certification and eco-label program for sustainable wild seafood.

With its certification and eco-label program, MSC aims to recognize and reward sustainable fisheries and leverage consumer and retailer purchasing power to promote environmentally responsible practices.

The Indonesian Pole and Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI) coordinated the MSC certification for this fishery. This is the third achievement for fisheries in Indonesia and the largest, involving 380 vessels and an estimated production volume of 11,894 tons in four fisheries management areas (WPP).

Previously, the pole and line tuna fishery in Sorong, West Papua, and the handline fishery in Buru Island, Maluku Province, also received similar certification in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The certificate obtained by AP2HI covers the waters around the Makassar Strait and Flores Sea (Fisheries Management Area/WPP 713), Banda Sea (WPP 714), Maluku Sea (WPP 715), and Sulawesi Sea (WPP 716) targeting yellowfin tuna and skipjack tuna.

The National Development Planning Agency/Bappenas appreciates the achievement and states that the MSC eco-label certification signifies global recognition that Indonesian tuna fisheries have implemented sustainable fishing principles.

"The attainment of the MSC certificate is a global acknowledgment that national tuna fisheries, especially pole and line and handline, have met sustainable fishing principles and indicators," said Sri Yanti, Director of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas.

The assessment in this certification was conducted systematically and comprehensively, covering aspects of target fish stock health, minimizing environmental impact from fisheries, and the presence of effective fisheries management.

Specifically, the assessment results for pole and line and handline tuna fisheries in the certification process that began in late 2019 indicate that the stock of both target species, yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), in Indonesia, are well above the thresholds that could impair recruitment processes and fluctuate within limits consistent with the maximum sustainable yield (MSY).

This stock information comes from state-of-the-art stock assessments to determine stock status.

Recent data from observations of fishing vessels, monitoring at landing ports, and timelapse cameras also show that these fisheries are highly selective, catching very few other fish species.

A Model of Synergy

Sri Yanti emphasized that synergy is the key to the success of tuna fisheries.

Lessons from tuna fisheries demonstrate the complexity of challenges faced and the characteristics of capture fisheries in Indonesia. Collaboration among all parties along the fisheries supply chain, including central and regional governments, academics, partner institutions, the younger generation, women's participation, and fishers, is essential to achieve a fair, independent, competitive, and sustainable Indonesian fishery.

The success of tuna fisheries serves as a development model and learning experience for other flagship fishery commodities, such as blue swimming crab, shrimp, and demersal fisheries.

The cooperation initiated by the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas in collaboration with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), local governments, associations, NGO partners like the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF), the Indonesian Marine and Fisheries Society (MDPI), and development partners like the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), all contribute to promoting good governance in national tuna fisheries.

The presence of a National Fisheries Multistakeholder Platform can be a strategic solution to consolidate all stakeholders and optimize the sustainable potential of fish resources, which aligns with each WPP's characteristics.

WPP-based management, or WPP-based economic development, will integrate land and sea spatial planning, optimize the function of marine conservation areas for fisheries, strengthen investment, organize reliable data provision, optimize food provision, particularly protein, and build industrial synergy according to each WPP's characteristics and strengths.

UNDP Indonesia Program Manager Iwan Kurniawan stated that UNDP, along with the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, with grant funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), supports the Indonesian government's efforts to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of fishery commodities in the global market through the Global Marine Commodities (GMC) project.

Since 2018, this grant has provided support for the acceleration of tuna fishery improvement activities coordinated by AP2HI and its partners as a development model, supporting the renewal of the Tuna, Skipjack, and Eastern Little Tuna Fishery Management Plan 2020-2024, supporting the refinement of the online database of Indonesian tuna fishing vessels called DIVA Tuna, and promoting the establishment of a national fisheries multistakeholder platform.

In addition to contributing to the achievement of this certification, all of these efforts address the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 14 on marine ecosystems, ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of Indonesian tuna fisheries in the long term.

Shared Commitment

Acting Director General of Capture Fisheries KKP M Zaini said the certification involved 380 fishing vessels scattered across the Indonesian archipelago, from North Sulawesi and North Maluku to the Banda Sea, and East and West Flores.

This also implements the cooperation between KKP and MSC, reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening collaboration on sustainable fishing.

"This certification demonstrates our commitment to sustainable tuna fishing in Indonesia to the world," he said.

As one of the largest tuna producers in the world, Indonesia needs to support the certification process through fishery improvement programs so that all fishery sectors can grow sustainably while providing livelihood guarantees for the future.

The certification determines that fishing remains at the level of global best practices with good stock management.

This achievement, related to stock and management, is a commitment that must be maintained over the five-year period to retain the certificate.

Of course, the support of all relevant stakeholders for small-scale tuna fisheries is crucial in accelerating the process towards sustainability. Indonesia is proud to have its third fishery meeting the highest standards of fishery sustainability.

GMC UNDP Indonesia Project Coordinator Jensi Sartin agreed that the success of AP2HI, its member companies, and partner fishers provides best practices and serves as a model for similar efforts by other fisheries.

Reflecting on the success of pole, line, and handline tuna fisheries, other tuna fisheries, namely longline tuna fisheries, coordinated by the Indonesian Tuna Longline Association, have also started fishery improvement initiatives.

He appreciates and supports the efforts of longline tuna fisheries as they are the spearhead for Indonesia in promoting production from the Exclusive Economic Zone and high seas, particularly for fresh products.

These advancements contribute to achieving national targets in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 14, which focuses on conserving and sustainably using marine and ocean resources.

As a result, this global achievement of Indonesian tuna proves that collective efforts can overcome pressures during the pandemic, resulting in shared pride.

This remarkable achievement is expected to inspire other sectors and fields in the country to continue excelling in every challenge.