The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) has announced its intention to enter its pole-and-line and handline tuna fisheries, for skipjack and yellowfin, into full Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) assessment by the end of 2015.
This move has been widely praised by NGOs.
The commitment comes on the back of the 4th International Coastal Tuna Business Forum (ICTBF). The forum cemented on-going dialogue amongst stakeholders, resulting in the decision to enter MSC this year.
“The internationally respected MSC eco-label will provide a solid foundation for the long-term viability of our country’s traditional fishing communities and will lead to much improved market access for our responsibly-caught tuna,” says Saut Hutagalung, Director General of Fisheries Product Processing and Marketing at MMAF.
Andrew Harvey, Country Director of International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF) commented, “IPNLF and our partners have been working closely with Saut Hutagalung and MMAF over recent years. MMAF, with NGO and industry support, have been active champions of their own fisheries, demonstrating the government’s commitment to sustainability and they deserve recognition for their dedication and hard work, in the same way that the fishers deserve recognition for theirs.”
At the ICTBF event, the Maldivian Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr. Mohamed Shainee, called on Indonesia to partner with Maldives to push for better management at RFMO level, and offered his country’s support throughout the MSC process.
The pole-and-line and hand-line fisheries in Indonesia are currently engaged in Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs), which have just undergone their annual review.
The client for MSC certification will be Asosiasi Perikanan Pole & Line dan Handline Indonesia (AP2HI), a fishery association that acts as a unified voice for the country’s pole-and-line and handline industry.
