Indonesia Praised Globally for Advancing Small-Scale Sustainable Fisheries

RRI.CO.ID, Bogor - Indonesia’s efforts in strengthening sustainable fisheries governance, particularly in the small-scale sector, earned international recognition at a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) forum in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The acknowledgment came from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) during a session titled “Lessons Learned from Improving Fisheries Management: 15 Years of Application of MSC Tools in the Pre-Certification Space”, held alongside the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) meeting.

Head of Fisheries Standard Accessibility at MSC, Amanda Lejbowicz, highlighted Indonesia’s progress in building systemic improvements through strategic partnerships.

“Indonesia demonstrates how collaboration between government and stakeholders can create systemic impact in fisheries governance,” she said in a statement from Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The forum provided a platform for FAO member states to exchange policies and best practices in global fisheries management.

MSC emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration, noting Indonesia’s success in coordinating government agencies, industry players, fisheries associations, research institutions, and civil society organizations to drive systematic reforms.

Representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries outlined national strategies through the National Fisheries Improvement Meeting, which aligns various Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIPs) with national policy and technical support.

Currently, Indonesia has one certified fishery and seven active MSC Improvement Programs, involving industry associations and stakeholders to promote transparent, science-based practices that meet international standards.

Chair of Indonesia’s Fish Stock Assessment Working Group at the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries, Fery Sutyawan, stressed that fisheries governance reform is a national priority consistent with the country’s blue economy agenda and quota-based management.

“Collaboration with partners, including MSC, strengthens cross-sector coordination, enhances transparency, and ensures that fisheries improvements, especially in small-scale sectors, are aligned with national policy,” he said.

Through MSC’s Improvement and Pathway Programs, Indonesian fisheries are adopting frameworks to identify sustainability gaps, design roadmaps for reform, and enhance governance capacity.

These efforts include strengthening harvest strategies, applying harvest control rules, developing management strategy evaluations, and improving fisheries data quality despite limited information.

MSC noted that successful transformation depends on supportive regulations, science-based management, and market incentives that encourage responsible practices.

Indonesia’s coordinated approach has accelerated progress, positioning the country as an active contributor to global discussions on sustainable fisheries while boosting the credibility of its seafood products in international markets.

Looking ahead, MSC reaffirmed its commitment to expanding partnerships with Indonesia to ensure that fisheries improvements deliver not only technical progress but also greater economic value and long-term benefits for coastal communities. ***