More good news in 2021!
We proudly share the news that the “Indonesia Pole-and-Line and Handline, Skipjack and Yellowfin Tuna of Western and Central Pacific Archipelagic Waters” fishery has been certified as a “Well Managed and Sustainable Fishery”, and has passed all Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Principles and Standard for Sustainable Fishing. The fishery consists of 8 Units of Assessment (UoA). These are North Sulawesi, North Maluku, West Flores, East Flores and the Banda Sea. This achievement marks the Indonesian tuna fishery as not only a sustainable product, but also as the third tuna fishery that has been certified in the last three years. This means that 11,000 tonnes more of sustainable yellowfin and skipjack tuna will reach the United State and European markets.
Prior to MSC full-assessment in 2020, Banda Sea Yellowfin (YF) Tuna led by PT. Intimas Surya had implemented the 5-year Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) with support from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) and Yayasan Alam Indonesia Lestari (LINI). The FIP contributed towards the improvement of catch data of handline YF tuna, installation of time-lapse cameras to record any protected species being caught during fishing activities, boat registration, and training in safety at sea.
LINI also facilitated the establishment of a Communication Forum for the tuna Fishery in the Banda Islands, which was led by staff from the Hatta-Sjahrir School of Fisheries on Banda Neira Island. Congratulations to all parties, including PT. Intimas Surya, the Association of Pole and Line and Handline Indonesia (AP2HI), the International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF), and all stakeholders engaging with the “Indonesia Pole-and-Line and Handline, Skipjack and Yellowfin Tuna of Western and Central Pacific Archipelagic Waters” fishery!
By Eveline Kurniati and Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley