Indonesia comes to SETFIA

Indonesia aims to increase wealth from seafood by reducing illegal fishing (including destructive fishing practices such as dynamiting for fish) and improving the return from seafood product (fishing and aquaculture) by better cold chain management and market development.

Dr Paul McShane (Global Marine Resource Management pty ltd) has led several programs engaging with Indonesian agencies (Government, NGOs, Universities, and the private sector) to assist Indonesia achieve improved wealth from fisheries/aquaculture.

“Australia is very good at things that Indonesia does poorly.  Australia produces high value from relatively low volumes of seafood. Indonesia produces high volumes but low value. Australia has well managed fisheries. Indonesia has virtually no fisheries management.

Extending successful examples of sustainable fisheries management to Indonesia is mutually beneficial” said Dr McShane.  SETFIA presents a successful co-management example to Indonesia. Through effective and extensive stakeholder engagement (including formal participation on MACs and RAGs) the South East Trawl fishery exemplifies a well-managed sustainable fishery involving multiple states and many different species.

Trawl fishing is banned in Indonesia.   It is seen as ecologically damaging and negatively affecting the wellbeing of coastal communities dependent on fishing for basic livelihoods i.e. food security.  The use of fine meshed nets and overfishing in inshore waters has led to scarcity of many important species. Proactive engagement with conservation groups and the wider community by SETFIA is seen as a successful example of managing perceived environmental impact (avoiding extreme government intervention). Co-management and stakeholder engagement facilitated through industry associations such as SETFIA present pathways to prosperity for Indonesia.

The recent opportunity for SETFIA to address a group of Indonesians visiting Australia as part of an “Empowering women for sustainable aquatic development of Indonesia’s aquatic living resources” was very well received and extended to wider networks in Indonesia.  This and forthcoming collaboration extends successful examples of sustainable management of fisheries to Indonesia.

For further information contact Dr Paul McShane paul.mcshane@monash.edu www.globalmarineresourcemanagement.com.au