Indonesia Hosts IORA Workshop to Boost Aquaculture Biosecurity

KBRN, Padang: Indonesia leveraged its status as a global aquaculture leader to host a major international workshop to strengthen food security and biosecurity practices across member states of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). The two-day event, titled “IORA Workshop on Enhancing Biosecurity Practices in Inland Aquaculture Farms,” was held in Padang, West Sumatra, from November 19 to 20, 2025, solidifying Indonesia’s commitment to sustainable marine development.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu), in collaboration with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), organized the event, which gathered key delegates from IORA member and dialogue partner nations. Ambassador Abdul Kadir Jailani, Director General for Asia Pacific and Africa at Kemlu, highlighted Indonesia’s strategic importance in the sector, noting the nation's significant contribution to global fisheries.

"In 2022, Indonesia was the second-largest aquaculture producer in the world, contributing about 10 percent of the total global production. This achievement is highly relevant today, in line with President Prabowo's priority in strengthening national food security," Ambassador Jailani said, as quoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official website.

West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi Ansharullah expressed his appreciation for the province hosting the international activity, emphasizing the region’s rich fishery resources. The Governor pledged the local government’s dedication to sustainable economic growth: “West Sumatra has large fishery resource wealth, and we are committed to making it the engine of sustainable regional economic growth.”

The workshop served as a crucial platform for discussing strategic topics, including national policies and international best practices concerning aquaculture food security. A key area of focus was the application of biosecurity measures in inland fish cultivation, capacity building for stakeholders, and fostering sustainable aquaculture innovations that contribute to the welfare of coastal communities.

Expert insights were provided by international figures, including Bin Hao, Fishery Officer from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Malasri Khumsri, an Aquaculture Technology Expert from the Department of Fisheries Thailand.

To complement the theoretical discussions, participants conducted a field visit to local fish farming units, ‘Kampung Guo’ and ‘Tuan Krab’, in Padang. The site visits allowed the delegates to observe the direct implementation of biosecurity principles, the biofloc system, and various innovations in fishery processing that successfully enhance local economic value.

This workshop serves as a tangible demonstration of Indonesia's active role as the chair of the IORA Working Group on the Blue Economy (WGBE) for the 2023–2025 period, and is a key part of implementing the WGBE Work Plan 2024–2027 concerning the promotion of sustainable aquaculture and stakeholder capacity building across the Indian Ocean region. ***