The international non-profit organization Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) appreciates the government of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) through the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) for their commitment to supporting sustainability in the fisheries sector. "MSC's collaboration with Indonesian stakeholders has shown how collaboration between industry, NGOs and government authorities can advance sustainability," MSC CEO Rupert Howes said in a media briefing delivered by MSC Indonesia Program Director Hirmen Sofyanto to ANTARA in Bogor, West Java , Tuesday. MSC is an international non-profit organization focused on sustainability and protecting the seafood supply for the future. MSC cares about the health of the world's oceans by respecting and recognizing sustainable fishing practices. He explained that in terms of the intended appreciation, the MSC presented awards made from recycled plastic materials to the KKP after a meeting ceremony in Bali Province on 7 February 2023. Prior to the meeting, the MSC held a presentation session for five Indonesian fisheries implementing fishery improvement under the "Pathway to Sustainability Project" to more than 60 MSC staff from the Asia Pacific region and the Americas.
This session is a collaboration between fisheries, MMAF and MSC towards sustainable practices. Sustainable fisheries include healthy fish stocks, minimized impacts and effective management. The five fisheries that have been supported by MSC and MMAF are crab crabs on Madura Island, East Java by the Indonesian Crab Management Association (APRI), shrimp in South Kalimantan by PT Sekar Laut Tbk., mud crabs on Kei Island, Maluku Province, by the WWF Foundation. -Indonesia, snapper grouper in Saleh Bay by Rekam Nusantara in West Nusa Tenggara, and yellowfin and skipjack tuna by the Indonesian Pole & Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI). He explained that each fishery has shown journeys, challenges, and large shipments since the beginning of the program. This fishery is part of MSC's collaboration with KKP based on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed for the development of marine and sustainable Indonesian products. The formal agreement starts in 2019 which then continues for a second period in 2022-2025. The second MoU targets that the MSC, together with the government and stakeholders, will focus on a national fisheries improvement program for priority fisheries such as tuna, mud crab, crab, shrimp, squid, large pelagic fish and small pelagic fish.
The MSC program in marine and fisheries development in Indonesia, he said, aims to support the accelerated progress of fisheries and the marketing of sustainable product policies in Indonesia through the Improvement of the national Fisheries Improvement Program and by increasing the accessibility of marketing of sustainable product policies. Main Protein Meanwhile, the Director General of Capture Fisheries at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Dr. Mohammad Zaini, said that seafood is the main source of protein for local consumption and food security as well as the main contributor to export products. "Therefore, Indonesian fisheries managers must also pay attention to the health of marine stocks and ecosystems which are the center of world marine biodiversity," he said. He said MMAF and MSC are working closely with stakeholders from fishermen, government, scientists and businesses at the local and global levels to support the vision of a "Blue Economy". The five fishing tackles presented at the meeting, he said, had shown significant improvements that needed to be continued to achieve the ultimate goal. Meanwhile, MSC CEO, Rupert Howes added that although different challenges occur in each fishery, with the MSC "Pathway to Sustainability" program fisheries have incentives and space to work with partner expertise and strategies. He said the MSC standard is a globally recognized benchmark for sustainable fishing. Throughout the collaboration with parties in Indonesia, he said, MSC continues to facilitate understanding between parties on fisheries in Indonesia, starting from fishery commodities, fleets, fishing, supply chains and prices, as well as domestic and international markets. These activities include technical guidance, business meetings and raising awareness about sustainable management and sustainable products, according to Rupert Howes.
