Indonesian longline tuna fishery enters national fishery improvement project

The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership announced the launch of a comprehensive fishery improvement project (FIP) for longline tuna that will be implemented by the Indonesian Longline Tuna Association. Included in the scope of the FIP will be the albacore, yellowfin, and bigeye longline fisheries in the Indian Ocean and the yellowfin and bigeye longline fisheries in the Western Central Pacific Ocean – both covering Indonesia’s EEZ and international waters.

”Indonesia is a leading producer of tuna, and implementing this national-level FIP, involving more than 250 longline vessels, can make a global impact in increasing the proportion of  shelf-stable and fresh and frozen tuna from well-managed sources,” said Dessy Anggraeni, director of SFP’s Indonesia FIP work. 

The FIP was developed to improve data collection on catch and bycatch, increase the number and coverage of onboard observers in the fleet, and improve research, monitoring, and evaluations for the fisheries. The FIP is also intended to improve management and oversight to the point where the fisheries can achieve MSC certification. 

The Indonesian Longline Tuna Association, along with 14 processors and fishing companies, signed a letter of commitment on 23 January.

“We are committed to implement the improvement actions listed in the workplan of the longline tuna fishery improvement project, and hope to move towards Marine Stewardship Council certification. Furthermore, we strive to make the Indonesia longline tuna regain its position as a prominent product from Indonesia, that is sustainable and that will make all of us proud.” ATLI Chairman Dwi Agus Siswa Putra said.

The FIP also has support from the supply-chain – 13 member companies of Sustainable Fishery Partnership’s Global Fresh and Frozen Tuna Supply Chain Roundtable have signed a letter supporting the development of the FIP. Supply Chain Roundtables, developed and managed by SFP, allow seafood suppliers to work in a pre-competitive environment and promote improvement in production and supply-chains.

The FIP will be listed on the Fishery Progress website as the “Indonesia Indian Ocean and Western Central Pacific Ocean tuna – longline FIP”. 

Photo courtesy of Uwe Aranas/Shutterstock