Jakarta, February 24 - The next time you consume tuna sashimi from the Indonesian waters, it might give you more peace of mind to know that your meals will not threaten the world’s tuna stocks. 

In January 2021, the Indonesia pole-and-line and handline, skipjack and yellowfin tuna of Western and Central Pacific archipelagic waters were certified sustainable to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) fisheries standards. The MSC is the international standard body which recognizes efforts to protect oceans and safeguard seafood supplies.

This achievement solidifies Indonesia’s commitment to a sustainable fisheries sector. The country supplies around 16 percent of the world’s total tuna supply, hence any move towards sustainability standards will better safeguard the global supply in the future.

“More than just a label, this achievement shows Indonesia’s determination and commitment to sustainable tuna fishing. As one of the largest tuna producers in the world, we are proud to achieve the  prestigious global sustainable fishery standard. We hope this inspires other fisheries to follow through and help contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Sri Yanti, Director of Marine Affairs and Fisheries at Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas).

The journey to MSC certification was coordinated by the Indonesia Pole and Line and Handline Tuna Fisheries Association (AP2HI). They coordinated about 307 fishers and 73 pole-and- line vessels from industry members, which ultimately contributed around 11,000 tonnes of responsibly and sustainably caught skipjack and yellowfin tuna to market.

To  receive  MSC certification, fisheries need to catch healthy fish stocks, minimize the impact on the environment, and demonstrate effective management. Indeed, this achievement is a testament to the collaborative effort between local, national and international stakeholders.

“We have committed to working on ensuring sustainable fisheries since 2012. We launched the fisheries improvement project (FIP) in 2014. AP2HI collaborated with multiple stakeholders such as KKP, BAPPENAS as well as local government, companies, IPNLF, CSOs, UNIDO, UNDP, and others. This partnership has added value to  the management of stocks of skipjack and yellowfin tuna that ultimately earned us MSC certification”, said Janti Djuari, Chairman of AP2HI.

Since its inception in 2018, the GEF-funded Global Marine Commodities project, which is implemented by BAPPENAS and UNDP, support mainstreaming sustainable seafood supply chains with the goal of rebuilding and protecting fish stocks as well as livelihoods.

“Congratulations to to Indonesia for this well- deserved achievement. Receiving this certification is critical to strengthening Indonesia’s tuna market globally, especially in North America and Europe” said Iwan Kurniawan UNDP Indonesia Programme Manager.

Bappenas, alongside UNDP through GEF’s Global Marine Commodities project provides support to AP2HI in evaluation, planning, and implementation of FIP of pole-and-line skipjack and yellowfin tuna of Western and Central Pacific archipelagic waters. The FIP, which follows MSC standards, helped pave the way to MSC certification. The FIP is a collaborative effort of the value chain stakeholders (from fishermen to retailers) to improve the sustainability of the fishery and support fisheries  as they work towards the assessment process.

GEF’s Global Marine Commodities project also creates an enabling environment to support sustainable tuna fisheries by facilitating the development of a National Tuna Management Plan and progress of Tuna Harvest Strategy, as well as for the development of an integrated database of tuna vessels. It helps  contribute to the sustainability of the fish stocks, reduce impact on the environment, and promotes good practices, ensuring the sustainability of fisheries for future generations.

For more information about  Global Marine Commodities Project , visit the project website: http://globalmarinecommodities.org