2007 - Getting Of The Hook-Reforming Tuna Fisheries Of Indonesia - (Ingles et al)

SUMMARY

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Capital from Nature

Indonesia is one of the most important tuna production centers of the world. Sadly, Indonesia’s tuna fisheries face an array of challenges. Data and recommendations in this report may serve as a basis for a comprehensive tuna management plan for Indonesia based on Fishery Management Areas, geographic units at a seascape scale that facilitate ecosystem-based management of fishing grounds.

Key Results of the Study

I. Filling the Gaps: Making Correct Management Decisions

Shortcomings in the current data collection system have made it difficult to produce an

accurate assessment of tuna stocks—A vital component in making appropriate policy

decisions. Recommendations to make tuna fisheries stock assessment-ready include:

Expanding the coverage of data collection sites and improving data collection forms to include new sets of information (e.g., species information, fi shing gear types); hiring and training more qualified personnel; utilizing web-based support for fast and efficient exchange of information; developing and implementing observer programs; nurturing a critical mass of fisheries science capacity in the country; and investing in tuna research.

II. Shifting Seascapes: Responding to Changing Fishing Patterns

The Indonesian tuna fisheries are currently undergoing dramatic changes that have crucial

implications in the context of management, investment, and policy. Such changes include:

Changes in species composition; changes in sectoral roles wherein the small scale tuna fishing sector has become the major supplier of tunas; and fleet structure, brought about by consumer demands, operational costs, and economic downturns. In order to respond to such changes and keep them from spiraling out of control, effective regulations have to be developed and implemented.

III. A Larger Playing Field: Being Globally Competitive

Staying at par with global players in the industry entails improving market access, doing away with harmful subsidies to the tuna industry (e.g., fuel, fi shing boats), which exacerbate the already high levels of fi shing intensity, addressing post-harvest losses; and rationalizing tuna exports by improving production processes and coming out with high-quality and innovative products.

IV.The Ripple Effect: Keeping Ecological Impacts in Check

To date, tuna fisheries undermine the ocean’s ecological integrity through unregulated by-catch (accidental catch of non-target species), unmanaged bait fisheries (which affects populations of other species), and unregulated fishing of tuna stocks. Keeping ecological impacts in check means having to maintain healthy stocks of baitfish by: setting policies and guidelines on the use of baitfish, applying precautionary measures wherein issuance of fishing licenses depend on the availability and status of bait fish stock; and looking into other species as an alternative source of bait fish. Reducing the amount of by-catch of non-target species such as turtles means promoting the use of circle hooks to longline fishing fleets, training crew members in proper de-hooking and handling of turtles to ensure high survival rates upon release, and avoiding as much as possible fishing in areas with high turtle abundance. The fate of yellowfin and bigeye tunas depends on how fishing of juveniles is addressed. Achieving this means regulating the use of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) that attract juvenile tunas, as well as developing fishing practices where the species composition of fish aggregated around a FAD is identified before a decision to set the net is made.

Roadmap to Sustainable Tuna Trade in Indonesia

Stocks of tuna in many areas within the territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of

the country have declined as indicated by trends in total catch and decline in catch rates. The

current level of tuna management falls short of ensuring sustainability of tuna stocks and the

conservation of bait fish fisheries. The roadmap to sustainable tuna trade depicts a set of

short-term and long-term goals designed to achieve sustainable trade in about 10 years or less.

The Journey Begins: Steps towards a Sustainable Tuna Trade

We recommend a plan towards sustainable tuna fisheries that comprises the following steps:

1. Make tuna fisheries Ecosystem-based Management (EBM) compliant, following a triple bottom line approach: optimizing ecological, economic, and socio-cultural benefits.
2. Indonesia should actively participate and push for reforms in at least 3 regional management organizations. Indonesia is a powerful tuna producing country and can use these regional organizations to provide technical capacity and logistical support to fund many of the reforms needed.
3. Make tuna exports and products internationally competitive by reducing or eliminating wastage in tuna fishing as a result of poor post harvest handling, improving services supporting export, and encouraging research and development for new tuna products.
4. Provide an investment climate conducive for supporting well-planned tuna development. This entails improving the brand name of Indonesia in the world market, removing or eliminating harmful subsidies that create monopolies, and addressing corruption issues.
5. Lay down the foundation to change consumer consumption behavior through advocacy and communications campaigns.

Towards the Finish Line: Sustaining the Vision

EBM can contribute to a sustainable tuna trade in the near future. Implementation of better

practices is a continuing process that depends on adaptive management. This means relying

on solid science to support decision making, as well as sharing domestic experiences with the

region. Indonesia can become a major decision maker in regional fishery management

organizations, and could form coalitions with its neighbors for reforms. Should Indonesia

succeed in reforming its international trade and fishery management practices, the country

could utilize its influence to complement the resource management of other countries

in the region.