Indonesia Combating IUU Fishing Through the RPOA‑IUU Framework

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Regional Plan of Action to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices, including Combating IUU Fishing (RPOA‑IUU), is a key instrument for strengthening regional cooperation and expanding oversight of illegal fishing.

Through this cooperative framework, monitoring focuses not only on fishing activities but also on working conditions and crew safety.

Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Surveillance (PSDKP), Pung Nugroho Saksono, said monitoring of fishing vessels must be comprehensive, as IUU fishing practices are often linked to other violations, including labor issues and crew safety.

“IUU fishing is not merely an issue of fish theft. Illegal fishing is frequently associated with other crimes, such as labor violations, disregard for safety, and even the exploitation of vessel crews,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Monday, September 21, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He said vessel monitoring must extend beyond verifying the legality of fishing activities. Inspections should cover vessel legality, documentation, fishing gear, catch, working conditions, and crew safety measures.

This approach is essential to ensure that every vessel operating in Indonesian waters complies with fisheries regulations, provides decent working conditions, and guarantees crew safety.

Pung noted that such comprehensive monitoring requires cross‑sectoral and international cooperation. “Fisheries oversight requires collaboration among fisheries and labor authorities, law enforcement agencies, and countries across the region,” he said.

These issues were discussed at the regional “Introducing Decent Work Conditions in the Fisheries Sector” workshop, organized by the RPOA‑IUU Secretariat with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Jakarta on September 15–16, 2026.

The workshop examined the link between IUU fishing and the exploitation of fisheries workers and highlighted the importance of decent work standards. A key reference was ILO Convention No. 188 on Work in Fishing, which sets standards for working conditions, safety, medical care, and social protection in the fishing sector.

Secretary of the Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Surveillance (PSDKP) and Executive Director of the RPOA‑IUU Secretariat, Saiful Umam, said responsible fisheries management must address not only fish stock sustainability but also social aspects.

He urged RPOA‑IUU member countries to incorporate decent working conditions into their national fisheries management systems to ensure a safe, fair, and responsible fisheries sector.

The RPOA‑IUU is a regional cooperative platform involving 11 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia. The cooperation promotes responsible fishing practices and combats IUU fishing.

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is expanding the scope of surveillance to include labor and safety aspects. This positions the fight against IUU fishing within a more comprehensive oversight framework supported by strengthened coordination and regional cooperation under the RPOA‑IUU. ***