JAKARTA: The Indonesian government is contemplating the extension of an international treaty to combat illegal fishing at additional ports nationwide. As the world’s largest archipelagic country and a leading seafood producer, Indonesia is a signatory to the 2009 Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), aimed at curbing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by restricting vessels engaged in such practices from accessing ports.
Despite its significant maritime position and the existence of 2,459 ports, Indonesia has currently implemented the PSMA at only four ports—far fewer than Thailand’s 26. The four Indonesian ports include the Samudra fisheries ports in Muara Baru, Jakarta, Bitung in North Sulawesi, Bungus in West Sumatra, and the commercial port of Benoa in Bali.
Tri Aris Wibowo, the fisheries port director at the fisheries ministry, expressed the need for increased implementation, stating, “We should be having more.” He emphasized the importance of partnerships between the fisheries ministry and public ports, underlining the necessity of a legal framework to apply PSMA principles to fishing vessels at these ports.
With the objective of enhancing transparency and traceability, Indonesia aims to increase global trust in its fish products. Tri Aris Wibowo noted that international acceptance involves not only considerations of fish health but also the traceability of the source, legality, and eco-friendliness of the fishing practices.
Indonesia’s move aligns with efforts to address the challenges of overfishing and ensure the sustainability of its fisheries. The PSMA, part of a toolkit for transparency and traceability, is viewed as a crucial mechanism to combat IUU fishing globally.
In a meeting held in Bali in early May, parties to the PSMA, hosted by Indonesia, reached agreements to strengthen efforts against IUU fishing. These measures include utilizing the Global Information Exchange System, a digital platform developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to share information on inspection reports and actions taken against foreign vessels engaged in IUU fishing.
As the world grapples with the need for sustainable fisheries, Indonesia’s potential expansion of the PSMA reflects a commitment to responsible fishing practices and global cooperation in combating illegal activities in the fishing industry.
