Indonesia, FAO Cooperate on Fisheries and Water Resources

RRI.CO.ID, Rome – Indonesian Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General, Qu Dongyu, discussed opportunities for cooperation in the aquaculture and farmed fisheries sectors. The two met on the sidelines of the 37th Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in Rome, Italy, quoted from an official statement on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

In addition, both parties discussed water resource management and strengthening strategic partnerships to support productive, inclusive, and sustainable marine, fisheries, food, and water resource development. The FAO considers Indonesia to have great potential in developing high-value fishery and marine commodities.

With a population of over 280 million people, the FAO views that Indonesia's success in maintaining food security and improving public nutrition will contribute to global efforts in overcoming food challenges. “Food and nutrition security in Indonesia is not only a national issue, but also an important part of the global agenda. Indonesia's success will be a major contribution to the world,” Qu said.

Qu also encouraged the development of sustainable aquaculture as an alternative that can provide income certainty for communities compared to relying on wild-catching fish. He believes that developing fish farming can support marine resource conservation while increasing the availability of animal protein for the public.

He shared the experiences of several countries that successfully shifted some small-scale fishers to aquaculture activities through institutional strengthening, farming technology development, and business models based on partnerships and joint investment. “This approach can be a reference for Indonesia in building a more efficient fishery production system, increasing community income, and ensuring the sustainability of marine resources for future generations,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Minister Trenggono expressed Indonesia's commitment to accelerating the transformation of the marine and fisheries sector. According to him, Indonesia will strengthen aquaculture, increase the productivity of coastal communities, and apply sustainability principles in marine resource management.

Both parties agreed to strengthen cooperation between Indonesia and FAO to advance the food, fisheries, and water sectors. This is done with the aim of supporting productive and sustainable development at both the national and global levels.