Eight one-by-one tuna fisheries in Indonesia seeking MSC certification

Eight one-by-one tuna fisheries – or pole-and-line and handline tuna fisheries – in Indonesia will enter the process to apply for certification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

The eight fisheries engaged in the process come from various parts of the Indonesian archipelago, from North Sulawesi and North Maluku, to the Banda Sea, and East and West Flores in the south, according to a statement from the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF) on 24 December.

They comprise highly selective, small-scale operations which harvest tuna with very low impact on other ocean species and the environment. In Indonesia, the one-by-one tuna sector is often a family or community business, and a major contributor towards local economies and food security, IPNLF said.

IPNLF and its Indonesian partner Asosiasi Perikanan Pole & Line dan Handline Indonesia (AP2HI) have been working closely with the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) on improving data collection and fisheries monitoring programs, leading to more effective management of these fisheries, MMAF Director of Fisheries Resources Management Trian Yunanda said.

IPNLF Southeast Asia Director of IPNLF Jeremy Crawford praised the determined efforts of AP2HI members and other stakeholders and the vital support provided by the Indonesia ministry in progressing the eight fisheries towards full assessment.

“We are pleased to be part of this important process of building value in the local one-by-one tuna supply chain. Together with our local partners and with the support of the Indonesian MMAF, IPNLF has been able to realize significant operational and social improvements,” he said.

These improvement programs include data collection and monitoring, and are often carried out by local observers who monitor and collect valuable information at sea as well as portside. In June 2018, a special joint agreement was signed between MMAF, IPNLF, and 14 buyers, brands, and retailers, for preferential sourcing of MSC-certified one-by-one tuna from Indonesia’s tuna fisheries over non-certified tuna once the products become available. 

Photo courtesy of the International Pole & Line Foundation

Subscribe

Want seafood news sent to your inbox?

You may unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time. Diversified Communications | 121 Free Street, Portland, ME 04101 | +1 207-842-5500
None