LINI has been working in the Banda Islands since January 2015. Banda Islands situated in the Banda Sea, and part of the Western Central Pacific Ocean. Administratively, Banda belongs to Maluku Province. The Archipelago was famous once as the only world’s source of the nutmeg until the mid-19th century. The project aims to support the development of a Banda Handline Yellowfin Tuna Fishery Improvement Project, which is being implemented by the industry (PT. Intimas Surya) and assisted by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership.
Yellowfin tuna is an important artisanal fishery, supporting the livelihoods of coastal communities in the Banda Islands. Traditional tuna fisheries from the Banda Sea are caught by fisherfolk who live on the remote volcanic islands of the Banda Archipelago in eastern Indonesia. These fishers live in Banda Neira, Kampung Baru, Banda Besar Island, Lalaut, Ai Island, Run Island, and Hatta Island. The fishing grounds cover the outer islands of Run and Hatta and even reach out to Ceram Islands in 50 to 60 nm.
The FIP has improved the quality of catch data, training safety at sea, and monitoring impact of fishing practices towards ETP species; and also increased the quantity of small-scale boat registration.
The Handline Yellowfin Tuna Banda Sea as part of the Association of Pole and Line and Handline Indonesia (AP2HI) has passed MSC full assessment in 2020, together with 7 Units of Assessment (UoA), these are North Sulawesi, North Maluku, West and East Flores and Banda Sea. In 26 January 2021, the fishery passed Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Principles and Standard for Sustainable Fishing and certified as well-managed and sustainable fishery. LINI continues in assisting the FIP through the Communication Forum for the tuna Fishery in the Banda Islands, which has been led by staff from the Hatta-Sjahrir School of Fisheries on Banda Neira Island.