Saving Seafood

New national-level FIP gets underway in Indonesia

September 17, 2019 — The following was released by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership:

The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is pleased to announce the development of a new, national-level fishery improvement project (FIP) concerning longline tuna in Indonesia.

SFP made the announcement today in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony in Jakarta with the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. The prospective FIP includes albacore, yellowfin, and bigeye longline fisheries in the Indian Ocean (WPP 572 and WPP 573) within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Indonesia and international waters (FAO Region 57), as well as yellowfin and bigeye longline fisheries in Western Central Pacific Ocean WPP 714 and WPP 715 (archipelagic waters), and WPPs 716 and 717 (EEZ; FAO Region 71).

SFP’s Target 75 initiative was a part of the driving force behind this FIP. The initiative has set a goal of seeing 75 percent of global production of key seafood sectors, including both shelf-stable and fresh and frozen tuna sectors, to be either sustainable, as in certified by organizations such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), or showing regular, verifiable improvements. SFP’s analysis of the global tuna sector recommends focusing on larger-scale FIPs like this one that offer economies of scale.
Members of SFP’s Fresh and Frozen Tuna Supply Chain Roundtable (SR) are supporting this developing FIP.

“Since Indonesia is considered to be the world’s largest producer of tuna and has the most abundant tuna fisheries in the world, it was only natural for SFP to promote a national-level FIP of this kind in that country,” said Blake Lee-Harwood, programs strategy director at SFP.

ATLI, the Indonesia Longline Tuna Association, is backing the FIP, along with 14 Indonesian tuna fishing companies and processors, involving more than 250 longline vessels that have committed to participate in this FIP. The ATLI Office in Benoa, Bali, will coordinate ongoing organizational efforts.

“This could be a historical milestone for the longline tuna fishery improvement project towards MSC certification,” said ATLI Chairman Dwi Agus Siswa Putra. “We hope that longline tuna will regain its position as a prominent product from Indonesia that makes all of us proud.”

Read the full release here

MSC and Indonesia join forces for sustainable fishing

September 5, 2019 — The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) focused on increasing the accessibility of the MSC’s market-based program to fisheries in Indonesia.

The agreement covers cooperation in the development of fishery improvement projects (FIPs), sharing of sustainable fishing best practice using the MSC ‘s Fisheries Standard, and capacity building. The MoU was signed by Nilanto Perbowo, MMAF’s secretary general, and Patrick Caleo, MSC’s Asia Pacific Regional director.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership announces new joint aquaculture improvement project in Indonesia

March 18, 2019 — The following was published by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership:

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is pleased to announce the initiation of a new sustainable aquaculture improvement project in Indonesia.

The project, scheduled for two years in Banyuwangi, East Java, will focus on improving the sustainability of aquaculture in the region, as well as governance and management of ongoing shrimp farming.

“Effective management of the natural resource base and protection from disease is critical to ensure the long-term investability of the shrimp industry,” said SFP Aquaculture Director Anton Immink.

SFP is working to coordinate the project, together with Conservation International, IDH—the Sustainable Trade Initiative, and Longline Environment. The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Indonesian Ministry of National Development Planning, and the Financial Service Authority of Indonesia will all be collaborating on the project as well.

“This program will support the ministry’s efforts to grow sustainable shrimp exports from Indonesia,” said Machmud, Directorate General of Product Competitiveness for the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

The approach is designed to address disease risks and environmental impacts across a politically and ecologically relevant location, to attract investment and insurance and create a scalable model that can be exported to other geographies.

“This project builds positively on the guidelines we jointly developed and creates the action needed to ensure a sustainable future for the shrimp industry in Indonesia,” said Dane Klinger, Aquaculture Innovation Fellow at CI.

The project is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and the Packard Foundation.

Two conservation-focused organizations collaborate for outreach to the tuna industry in Bitung and Jakarta, Indonesia

October 19, 2017 — WASHINGTON — The following was released by the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation: 

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation will hold Tuna Processor Forums in Bitung, Indonesia (23 October) and Jakarta, Indonesia (24 October) with support from the Walton Family Foundation. The goals of the events are to build management support for Indonesia’s tuna fisheries and equip local companies with the knowledge and opportunities to engage in tuna sustainability efforts through market influence.

“With its location between the Pacific and Indian oceans, Indonesia plays an important role in the global seafood marketplace,” said Holly Koehler, Vice President of Policy and Outreach, ISSF. “Collaborating with the Government of Indonesia, local fleets and the processing industry, in partnership with other NGOs, is essential to addressing tuna sustainability challenges that will, in turn, directly impact the work of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) like the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC),”

“Indonesia’s tuna fishery is one of the country’s most economically important fisheries, and its fishers land more tuna than any other fishing nation in the world,” said Heather D’Agnes, Environment Program Officer, Walton Family Foundation. “Working with seafood companies is an important step in building a sustainable future for fishermen and fish alike.”

ISSF works with a variety of partners in the region, including the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, to strengthen the management of fisheries by collecting and compiling vessel data, helping vessels meet RFMO rules and improving traceability through the supply chain. ISSF and the Walton Family Foundation hope the forums will build on thesignificant progress the Ministry is making.

The aims of the Indonesia forums are multi-pronged, and both days include the following agenda:

Overview and update on Indonesia’s tuna fishing program including the rollout of the national tuna management plan from the Indonesian Government;

Introduction to opportunities to engage with IOTC and WCPFC, as well as updates on regional tuna management activities;

Overview of ISSF’s activities in support of sustainable tuna fisheries;

Information on tuna sourcing commitments from markets in Europe, North America and Australia and how these commitments intersect with ISSF Conservation Measures, ISSF Participating Companies and the ISSF ProActive Vessel Register (PVR); and

Information on the options and benefits of tuna company participation in ISSF.

ISSF has been involved with ongoing projects in the region since 2015, including:

  • The implementation of pilots that trial the PVR for small-scale vessels, particularly on handline and pole and line boats, as well as small longliners and very small purse seiners;
  • The development of a Pole and Line Skippers Guidebook to add to the suite of existing ISSF Purse Seine and Longline Skippers’ Guides;
  • Engagement on critical tuna fisheries issues pertaining to the two relevant RFMOs — IOTC and WCPFC.

About the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) is a global coalition of scientists, the tuna industry and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) — the world’s leading conservation organization — promoting science-based initiatives for the long-term conservation and sustainable use of tuna stocks, reducing bycatch and promoting ecosystem health. To learn more, visit iss-foundation.org, and follow ISSF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (@issf.official).

About the Walton Family Foundation

The Walton Family Foundation believes that conservation solutions that make economic sense stand the test of time. They work to achieve lasting change by creating new and unexpected partnerships among conservation, business and community interests to build durable solutions to important problems. Through its environment initiatives, the foundation is investing in two of the most important conservation issues of our time: restoring the health of the oceans through sustainable fisheries and preserving functioning rivers and the quality and availability of fresh water they provide. This work spans four initiatives: Oceans, Colorado River, Mississippi River and Coastal Gulf of Mexico. Learn more at: www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow @WaltonFamilyFdn.