The International Pole and Line Foundation (IPNLF) on Tuesday announced Indonesia launched a pole and line and hand line fishery task force.The
Asosiasi Perikanan Pole and Line dan Handline Indonesia (AP2HI) now drives the development of the country’s coastal tuna fisheries.The main goals of AP2HI are:
• Gather, unify and act as a “shared voice” for the diverse businesses engaged in Indonesia’s pole and line and hand line industry
• Promote a fair, transparent and sustainable utilization of the resource
• Ensure the industry conducts itself in a responsible and insightful manner in regards to both the environment and dependent communities
• Encourage and facilitate partnerships between companies upstream and downstream
• Drive innovation, transparency and traceability
• Represent and promote the industry both nationally and internationally to foster further support for Indonesia’s coastal tuna fisheries IPNLF said that as a large archipelagic nation, Indonesia has extensive coastal communities where traditional fishery methods create both direct and indirect jobs for thousands of people. Fisheries in Indonesia employ around 11 percent of the nation’s workforce. Tuna contributed around 18 percent of Indonesia’s total fish exports in 2012, valued at USD 764 million (EUR 558 million).
“AP2HI has quickly built up a solid representation of members from across the value chain, including fishers, producers, processors and exports for both pole and line and hand line,” said Yanti Djuari, AP2HI chairwoman. “Apart from promoting coastal tuna fisheries, AP2HI is active in innovating the industry to become more efficient and aligned to international markets requirements — including Marine Stewardship Council certification. As AP2HI represents the industry, once certified the chain of custody will be open to the entire pole and line and hand line supply chain to engage.”
“The International Pole & Line Foundation is delighted with the speed and manner that AP2HI has established itself. The association represents a shared voice for all involved in pole and line and hand line fisheries across Indonesia,” said John Burton, IPNLF chairman. “IPNLF is pleased to have supported founding the AP2HI task force and we believe this demonstrates the commitment of industry to ensure the viability of environmentally and socially responsible fisheries.”
