National Action
Toward Sustainable Tuna Management in The Asia-Pacific
Why We Need Tuna Fisheries Management Plan
Currently the effort to sustainably conserve and manage tuna fisheries has become a primary concern. Research has shown that the stock of a number of tuna species in the world has declined and is at risk of being overfished. This condition calls for global attention and concerted action by stakeholders in order to keep stocks at sustainable and able to fulfil the high consumer demand.
Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) presently play a very important role in providing support for research and good management practices to their member countries. Resolutions along with Conservation and Management Measures (CMM) such as logbook and data collection, Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS), observer on board, IUU Fishing determent and so forth are among efforts that have been approved. These are common measures that can be implemented. National Tuna Management Plans have become an urgent need in countries to provide guidance for tuna fisheries management strategies that refer to agreements at regional and international level. Without real action, these commonly built commitments will become meaningless.
Indonesia is one of the largest tuna-producing countries in the world. Nearly all of its waters (archipelagic, territorial and EEZ waters) are known as tuna fishing grounds. Besides that, some of its waters are a spawning ground for a number of tuna species. These waters are within the scope of the Asia Pacific region where Indonesia contributes approximately 16% of global tuna production and 20% of national fisheries production per year (Visual: WPP). However, it is also clear that global tuna problems do impact on Indonesia. Therefore, Indonesia is committed to actively participate in supporting sustainable tuna fisheries management. Indonesia is now registered as a member country of 3 RFMOs: IOTC, WCPFC, and CCSBT. It also acts as a cooperating non-member of IATTC