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Public and Private-led Initiatives for the Sustainability of Indonesian Tuna Fisheries

GEF/UNDP Global Marine Commodities

By IW:LEARN

December 4^th, 2019

As the world’s largest tuna-producing nation, Indonesia’s public and private sector are taking important strides to ensure the long-term sustainability of its tuna stocks and to make the necessary improvements to tuna fisheries to obtain certification from the world’s leading seafood sustainability certifying agency.

The Global Marine Commodities (GMC) Project is working closely with the Indonesian government and the Indonesian Pole & Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI) to achieve these goals.

Public and Private-led Initiatives for the Sustainability of Indonesian Tuna Fisheries

Skipjack and Yellowfin Tuna Pole-and-line Fishery Improvement Project (FIP)

A third-generation pole-and-line tuna fisher, captain Anderson Maluengseng of Indonesia and his crew of 35 fisherman snap into action as their boat approaches the patch of roiling ocean water, stirred up by a school of skipjack and yellowfin tuna.

Indonesian Pole and Line fishing, Indonesia. Credit: GMC Indonesia

About 100 nautical miles off the coast of North Sulawesi in Indonesia, the crew members position themselves on the deck of the wide bow, each holding their bamboo rod with a 15-foot fishing line and barbless hooks. Maluengseng gives the command to activate the water sprinkler system around the deck area to obscure the fish's view. As the boat gently floats into the middle of the skipjack school, two “baitmen” standing on the left and right side of the hull toss live anchovies overboard and the fishing begins.

“Pole-and-line fishing is quite the spectacle. Captured fish are whipped from the water and tossed over the fisherman’s shoulder onto the deck,” Maluengseng said. “Flying tuna!”

Captain Anderson Maluengseng. Credit: GMC Indonesia

Maluengseng and his crew are part of an estimated 24,500 Indonesians who fish for yellowfin and skipjack tuna using the traditional pole-and-line technique and is a direct beneficiary of the GMC Project.

Using the pole-and-line fishing technique, known as “huhate” in Bahasa, fish are caught one-by-one using hooks and lines and live baitfish such as anchovies to attract the tuna. Once tuna are landed on Maluengseng’s ship, each one is carefully handled, undergo initial post-harvest processing and are put on ice in the ship’s hatch to keep the fish fresh until they arrive back at port.

Tuna Pole and Line bamboo rod, Indonesia. Credit: GMC Indonesia

“For me, huhate is still the best way to catch and sustain tuna populations in the ocean, as it is easy to catch and release a fish that is below minimum size, and of course because of the low rates of bycatch compared to other fishing methods”

said Abdul Muis Sulaiman, General Manager of AP2HI.

Abdul Muis Sulaiman, General Manager of AP2HI. Credit: GMC Indonesia

Although the pole-and-line fleet produces only about 10% of total Indonesian tuna landings, the fishery has been steadily growing since the 1970s, and the AP2HI association has been leading efforts to help organize pole and line fishers, and better position the tuna products with international buyers.

Processing Indonesian Tuna. Credit: GMC Indonesia

“Through the GMC project, we support the Pole and Line Yellowfin and Skipjack Tuna Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) to accelerate their progress towards meeting the requirements and conditions for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification," said Iwan Kurniawan, Programme Manager for NRM Cluster in UNDP Indonesia. “Achieving such certification is critical to strengthen Indonesian tuna markets in North America and Europe,” he said.

Tuna Observer, Indonesia. Credit: GMC Indonesia

With support from the GMC project, AP2HI has been able to better coordinate data collection systems through the placement of on-board observers on pole-and-line fishing vessels, and establish a rigorous port sampling system to help accurately determine nationwide harvest quantities. AP2HI has also strengthened their assistance to pole and line vessels to ensure their compliance with national fisheries regulations, and tracking the location, use and impact of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). The AP2HI’s Indonesia pole and line skipjack and yellowfin tuna FIP is expected to apply for a full assessment against MSC certification standards in early 2020.

“The journey of the pole and line tuna fishery towards certification is anticipated to generate lessons and best practices as well as motivation for other Indonesian fisheries that also seek to enter global markets for sustainable seafood”

said Sri Yanti, Director of Marine Affairs and Fisheries at BAPPENAS.

Sri Yanti, Director of Marine Affairs and Fisheries at BAPPENAS. Credit: GMC Indonesia

Understanding the critical importance of sound fisheries management to the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks in Indonesian waters, the government of Indonesia, with support from the GMC Project, is leading the process to update its National Tuna Management Plan (NTMP). The NTMP will establish the management framework, stock status/baseline, and strategic management objectives and time-bound milestones for the different types of tuna fisheries for Indonesia.

“The Indonesia tuna fishery is too big to fail,”

said Trian Yunanda, Deputy Director of EEZ and High Seas in the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

Trian Yunanda, Deputy Director of EEZ and High Seas in the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. Credit: GMC Indonesia

“We need all stakeholders to contribute and participate in all processes to ensure sustainability of this fishery, from capacity building, data collection and analysis, to establishing effective management measures.”

The NTMP update will invite all relevant stakeholders to participate in its design, including central and local government representatives, fishers, industries, NGOs, communities, and academics. With meaningful multi-stakeholder participation, the government of Indonesia expects to create consensus-based management plans that will ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of Indonesia tuna fisheries over the long-term.