A small-scale hook-and-line tuna fishery in Indonesia operating with small one- or two-man boats has successfully demonstrated its sustainability to the globally recognised standard set by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
The North Buru and Maluku Fair Trade Fishing Association tuna fishery is the first handline yellowfin tuna fishery in the world and the second in Indonesia to be certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard.
The fishery in Buru, Maluku Province has been in a Fishery Improvement Project since April 2013. It was certified under the FairTrade USA Capture Fisheries Standard in October 2014. The Buru handline tuna fishery consists of 123 fishermen who are organised in nine FairTrade associations.
“We’re extremely proud of seeing the first Indonesian handline yellowfin tuna fishery meet the highest standard for sustainability,” said Indonesia’s Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo.
“Indonesia commits to support its small-scale fishers and sustainable tuna fisheries, and this MSC certification sets an example for other small-scale fisheries in Indonesia and around the world.”
“We congratulate Indonesia Handline Yellowfin tuna fishery and their partners for becoming MSC certified,” commented MSC Asia Pacific Director Patrick Caleo.
“They are demonstrating true leadership in sustainable fishing. To maintain their certification, the fishery will need to work with other fishing organisations and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to agree to important management measures to safeguard yellowfin tuna stocks.”
The customary fisheries management system created through the FairTrade associations helped to meet the MSC Standard requirements and shows how FairTrade can be an effective way for small-scale fisheries to achieve MSC certification.
Yayasan Masyarakat dan Perikanan Indonesia (MDPI), an independent foundation focused on achieving responsible and sustainable fisheries activities, has supported the fishery and provided support to local community development, environment projects, safety-at-sea training and fisheries management capacity building.
“The journey towards MSC certification has been a true collaboration between all parties of the client group as well as Yayasan Masyarakat dan Perikanan Indonesia and MMAF both provincially and nationally,” said
Blane Olson from Anova Food LLC.
“Together we were able to implement fisheries improvement project activities such as data collection, vessel registration and co-management committees, in order to meet both the Fair Trade and MSC standard.”
