Stakeholders in Indonesia's octopus fisheries recently gathered to negotiate on a nationwide management plan for the fishery, continuing a multi-year process.
According to a release from the LINI Foundation, an Indonesian conservation NGO, the document first began negotiations in 2024 in response to national challenges in managing octopus stocks sustainably.
The document, dubbed RPP Gurita, aims to serve as the official framework that government officials and other relevant stakeholders can reference to properly conserve the resource, which is mainly fished off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
“It outlines policy directions, management strategies, and the roles of different stakeholders in conserving octopus stocks, supporting the livelihoods of small-scale fishers and promoting responsible fishing practices,” the NGO said.
The recent meeting, held in Bogor, Indonesia, came just a few months after the plan’s draft underwent a public consultation process, which brought together over 100 stakeholders representing national and local government agencies, fishing communities, the seafood industry, universities, and NGOs involved in octopus fisheries management across the Southeast Asian nation.
In Bogor, participants weighed the merit of that public feedback and aimed to align the structure of the document with existing fisheries management plans, all while maintaining the overarching goals of “strengthening sustainable fishing practices, improving fisheries data collection systems, and reinforcing local fisheries governance.”
The Bogor meeting represented the final round of negotiations on the document.
“RPP Gurita needs to be finalized and officially adopted as soon as possible because it will serve as the foundation for future octopus management strategies for both the seafood industry and fishing communities. At the same time, we recognize that several local management initiatives are already being implemented through village regulations and community-based resource management efforts,” Indonesia Octopus Fishery Improvement Project Lead Dessy said in a release.
Indonesia is a top global producer of octopus. According to government statistics, the country caught over 21,000 tons of octopus in 2024 worth over IDR 812 billion (USD 45.6 million, EUR 39.2 million).
Partners in the development of RPP Gurita include Hawai’i-based NGO the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, U.K.-based marine conservation charity Blue Ventures, and multiple domestic conservation organizations.
