Considered the world’s largest producer of tuna, Indonesia has the most abundant tuna fisheries in the world. However, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing incurred losses to the country are estimated to be as high as US$ 3 billion a year. Over the past four years, the government of Indonesia has reshaped the fishery sector, aiming to harness the country’s potential as a leading maritime and fishing nation.
The One-by-One Indonesia Tuna Alliance, with support from the United States Agency for International Development Oceans and Fisheries Partnership (USAID Oceans) intends to build on the momentum created by the government fishery reform to support, develop and promote Indonesian pole-and-line, troll and handline (one-by-one) tuna fisheries and communities.
Saut Tampubolon, Executive Director of MDPI says that the Alliance is a good opportunity to embrace all stakeholders to work together on achieving responsible and sustainable fisheries. “This announcement at the world’s largest seafood show underscores our commitment to harmonize our efforts and to provide a unified voice that improves opportunities for coastal one-by-one fishers – before industry, Government and NGO partners. Support of all parties is absolutely needed to achieve the Alliance’s goal, which is sustainable fisheries. I personally look forward to working together with our partners now and in the future.”
Alliance members have been working together in Indonesia over the past five years, leading the transition of tuna fisheries in Indonesia towards more sustainable practices. The consolidation of the efforts of these organisations through the Alliance marks a distinct opportunity to further sustainability within Indonesia’s tuna sector.
With its formation, the Alliance will immediately focus its efforts on the continued integration of technologies in support of strengthening the electronic catch documentation and traceability (eCDT) capabilities of Indonesia’s tuna value chains and the preparation of fisheries for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. In the long-term, the Alliance hopes to disseminate best practices in eCDT and sustainable fisheries management practices throughout the region.
Jeremy Crawford, Southeast Asia Director of IPNLF, says, “Indonesian one-by-one tuna fisheries and supply chains are complex, varied and vast. By leveraging the combined strengths of all the Alliance members, we can continue to deliver the best improvements on the ground to support the fishers and fishing communities, and throughout the supply chains. I look forward to working even more closely with our partners and strengthening our impact to ensure one-by-one tuna fisheries are recognised and rewarded for their environmental stewardship.”
The networking reception at the Seafood Expo Global, co-hosted by the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, IPNLF, AP2HI, the Indonesia SMART-Fish Programme and the Swiss Import Promotion Programme, also saw the European launch of the new Indonesian Tuna brand that aims to increase the awareness and recognition of Indonesia’s sustainable tuna fisheries in global markets.
Muis Sulaiman, General Manager of AP2HI, says, “The launch of the Alliance happened at a very special event for AP2HI and our association Members. Collaboratively, we have also launched the Indonesian Tuna brand, and confirmed that the first group of AP2HI Member one-by-one tuna fisheries will enter full MSC assessment in July 2019. Working with the Alliance, we look forward to continuing to promote our Members.”
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Notes To Editors
THE ONE-BY-ONE INDONESIA TUNA ALLIANCE|
The Alliance is supported by international donors and organisations, including the United States Agency for International Development Oceans and Fisheries Partnership (USAID Oceans), that began working with Alliance members in 2017 to conceptualise and launch the initiative. USAID Oceans, a five-year programme working across Southeast Asia to combat IUU fishing, conserve marine biodiversity, and bring attention to the human aspects of fisheries, is joined by the Walton Foundation and UNIDO in supporting the Alliance.
AP2HI
The Indonesian Pole & Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI) is founded on the needs of the pole-and-line and handline industry players to unite their aspiration in a legal organization and to promote and support the sustainability of tuna fisheries in Indonesia and contribute to innovating the industry and achieve MSC certification through a fisheries improvement programme.
AP2HI has more than 35 active members including fishermen, fishing companies and processing industry. They all commit to the organization’s code of conduct to implement sustainable fishing practices. The services of AP2HI span the entire fisheries improvement program and include training, tracking and tracing, data collection, observer programmes, vessel registration, port sampling, bait cultivation, liaison with government and branding and promotion.
AP2HI is the owner and manager of the Indonesian Tuna branding initiative.
International Pole & Line Foundation
The International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF) works to develop, support and promote socially and environmentally responsible pole-and-line, handline and troll (collectively one-by-one) tuna fisheries around the world. IPNLF’s ambition is to contribute to thriving coastal fisheries, including the people, communities, businesses and seas connected with them. As a hub for sustainably-minded organisations, we use the influence of the market to forge change through practical fishery projects and stakeholder cooperation. IPNLF membership is open to organisations involved in the one-by-one caught tuna supply chain. Allied with our Members, IPNLF demonstrates the value of one-by-one caught tuna to consumers, policymakers and throughout the supply chain. We work across science, policy and the seafood sector, using an evidence-based, solutions-focused approach with guidance from our Scientific & Technical Advisory Committee and Board of Trustees.
IPNLF was officially registered in the United Kingdom in 2012 (Charity 1145586), with branch offices in London, the Maldives, Indonesia, and South Africa and a staff presence in France, Germany, Netherlands, North America and St Helena.
Yayasan Masyarakat dan Perikanan Indonesia (MDPI)
Yayasan Masyarakat dan Perikanan Indonesia (MDPI) was founded in 2013 as an independent foundation focused on achieving responsible and sustainable fisheries activities and attempting to provide on-going care for the conservation of fisheries resources and ecosystems of Indonesia and the region. Small-scale artisanal fisheries are the main focus of MDPI’s work. We support the development of the fishing communities and supply chains of these fisheries through programs that support economic improvements and social stability for the people. These activities are conducted within the supply chain of varied seafood products by supporting industry to ‘do the right thing’ regarding sustainability, social aspects and other market- driven demands.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Deborah Aragão, Marine Change, Deborah.Aragao@marinechange.com, +62 821 4494 0917
Mohammad Syifa, Yayasan Masyarakat dan Perikanan Indonesia (MDPI), mohammad.syifa@mdpi.or.id
Yanti Djuari, Asosiasi Perikanan Pole & Line dan Handline (AP2HI), janti.djuari@ap2hi.org
