Indonesian fishermen transporting a caught tuna. (Photo: Akimitsu)

IPNLF and USAID partner to improve Indonesia's tuna traceability

The United States Agency for International Development’s Oceans and Fisheries Partnership (USAID Oceans) have partnered the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF) to implement a catch documentation and traceability (CDT) system in Indonesia and support sustainable fisheries management and supply chain integrity.

Through the new partnership, USAID Oceans is working closely with IPNLF, the Indonesian Pole & Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI), and the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) to develop and implement a financially sustainable CDT system that will integrate with existing government and industry systems.

As part of the collaboration partnership, IPNLF will engage its Members and networks to build awareness and support in key export markets for implementation of the CDT system and sustainable fisheries management in Indonesia.

Besides, USAID Oceans and IPNLF are also working closely with Masyarakat dan Perikanan Indonesia (MDPI), a local Indonesian foundation, to develop an Indonesian Coastal Tuna Sustainability Alliance that will support the coordination and scaling of various traceability and sustainable fisheries management initiatives in Indonesia.

The CDT system will support the capture and validation of key data elements on tuna products, including legality and movement from the point of harvest all the way to the end consumer. The system will be piloted in Indonesia and Philippines-based learning sites before expansion in Southeast Asia. The program is working to build partnerships with technology and seafood companies as well as investors to identify sustainable business and investment models for expansion and longevity.

"Customers in key markets like the United States and the European Union are driving the demand for sustainable and fully traceable seafood products, which requires buyers to obtain robust data from their suppliers. Market acceptance therefore provides considerable incentive for fishing companies and processors to adopt strong traceability systems," said Acting USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia Director Todd Sorenson.

In Indonesia, IPNLF initiates practical fishery projects and facilitates stakeholder cooperation to support and improve the country’s one-by-one tuna fisheries. It works closely with AP2HI to contribute to the restoration and protection of Indonesia’s marine and coastal ecosystems, while also ensuring sustainable harvests of tuna for global consumption. This work promotes a transparent and responsible supply chain, ensuring that local communities benefit from the value of one-by-one tuna sales.

"Our partnership with USAID Oceans is vital to ensure that we and our partner, AP2HI, can continue to make improvements in the traceability and sustainability of Indonesia’s coastal tuna fisheries," said Martin Purves, Managing Director of IPNLF. "By giving consumers greater confidence in the products that they are buying, the CDT system will provide invaluable support for the artisanal coastal fisheries we work with, enabling them to maintain their livelihoods and decent living standards while also safeguarding the long-term future of vital fish stocks and marine habitats."

USAID Oceans is one of the many U.S. initiatives in support of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its 10 Member States. The United States partners with ASEAN to support economic integration, expand maritime cooperation, cultivate emerging leaders, promote opportunity for women and address transnational challenges.

Those participating in the project stated that precise data on illegal fishing is hard to come by, but in the past the annual cost of IUU to Indonesia, the world’s largest tuna fishing nation, has been estimated at USD 3 billion a year.
 
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