Jakarta, Jan. 3, 2022 — There were few options of Indonesian seafood that satisfied the international standard of sustainability when UNDP Indonesia's Global Marine Commodities (GMC) Project was launched in 2018. Now, consumers can choose to an array of Indonesia’s top seafood commodities which had met the global standards on sustainable fisheries.

These remarkable achievements were the highlight of last week’s closing ceremony of the four-year Project GMC Project, which works towards developing sustainable fisheries in Indonesia. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with the leadership of Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) and in partnership with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Project has cemented Indonesia’s status as the world’s second largest seafood producer and a key player in sustainable seafood.

“During the four-years of the implementation of the project, the pole and line, and handline tuna fisheries successfully obtained the Marine Stewardship Council certification, the gold standard for sustainable fisheries, while the other two fisheries commodities, the Blue Swimming Crab and Longline tuna fisheries have advanced significantly and are on-track to achieve similar standards,” said Sophie Kemkhadze, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Indonesia during the ceremony.

“They have also been equipped with the Fisheries Management Plan which will further strengthen Indonesia’s robust fisheries development,” she continued.

Indonesia, world’s largest archipelagic nation, supplies around 16 percent of the world’s total tuna supply. Given its massive production,  any move towards sustainability standards in seafood will better safeguard the global supply in the future.

Despite these achievements, however, both UNDP and BAPPENAS note that more work needs to be done to ensure the fisheries sector remains sustainable and resilient, while also benefiting the fishing community in Indonesia and the world. Climate change, illegal, unregulated, unreported practices in the sector, and gender inequity are all issues that must be addressed.

Suharso Monoarfa, BAPPENAS Minister, in his opening remarks, noted that it was the right time for Indonesia to implement the Blue Economy approach. “Blue Economy can be a source of new, more inclusive and sustainable economic growth, which is expected to contribute to the post-pandemic blue recovery. Therefore, the support of development partners such as UNDP is crucial and is a momentum to produce best practices and development models which can then be accelerated and replicated nationally.” he said, noting GMC’s work in developing the fisheries sector.

Acknowledging international support, particularly by the donor, GEF, Laksmi Dhewanthi, GEF Operational Focal Point in Indonesia noted that “the GMC project complemented the government resources, as a leverage and catalytic support for the development in the fisheries sector,”

Despite the end of the project's official activities, she noted that the effort must continue to have a greater influence in the future.

During the event, Luky Adrianto of IPB University noted that the implementation and outputs from GMC project contributed and will benefit the target for post 2020-Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. Besweni from MMAF shared the GMC’s detailed contribution to Indonesia fisheries development and highlighted the new direction of Indonesia’s fisheries management. Lastly, Ms Janti Djuari, chairwoman of Indonesia pole and line and handline fisheries industry association (AP2HI) shared her association’s lesson learnt in coordinating the industry that collaborate for the successful certification in tuna fisheries.

“GMC’s outputs will be leveraged to the other fisheries commodities and other marine regions” concluded Dr. Sri Yanti, Director of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, BAPPENAS, who also serves as National Project Director for GMC.

The project also aided in the creation of a National Tuna Management Plan and the implementation of the Tuna Harvest Strategy, as well as the creation of an integrated database of tuna vessels.

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

MEDIA CONTACTS:

UNDP Indonesia, National /Project Manager for GMC Project, Jensi Martin, jensi.martin@undp.org 

UNDP Indonesia, Communication Specialist Tomi Soetjipto suryo.tomi@undp.org