Collaborating With MSC, KKP Wants To Guarantee The Sustainability Of Consumption Fish In Indonesia

Director General of Strengthening Competitiveness for Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP) KKP Budi Sulistiyo. (Photo: Doc. KKP Public Relations)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) collaborates with the international nonprofit Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to ensure tracing as well as the sustainability of fishery resources, especially consumption fish.

The cooperation between the two parties, which has been initiated since 2019, has succeeded in delivering 40 units of fish processing (UPI) and 2 retailers, which have a Standard Certificate of the MSC Supervision Chain or Custody.

"This is an indicator that UPI in Indonesia already has a global level in tracing fishery products," said Director General of Strengthening Competitiveness for Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP) KKP Budi Sulistiyo as quoted from the KKP official website, Monday, October 30.

Budi said, since cooperation was carried out in 2019 until now, more than 400 stakeholders in Indonesia have undergone technical guidance related to sustainable fisheries standards and globally recognized regulatory chain standards.

He said, there are two seafood restaurants that have committed to sustainable seafood processing and present the MSC labeled menu.

"Not only that, there are already 10 Indonesian tuna fisheries under the Indonesian Pole & Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI) which already holds MSC certificates as evidence that they have carried out the best practice for sustainable fisheries," he said.

According to Budi, the KKP also always gets support in the preparation of materials for the promotion of Indonesian fisheries for wider market access, both at home and abroad.

Therefore, Budi hopes that the development of the MSC program in Indonesia will create greater market opportunities for sustainable fishery products.

"Moreover, ahead of the commemoration of National Fish Day (Harkannas) which will be commemorated on November 21, where the KKP carries the theme 'Fish for the Golden Generation'," he concluded.

For your information, based on data from the Directorate General of PDSPKP KKP, the fish consumption rate throughout 2022 reached 57.27 kg per capita/year or the equivalent of fresh whole fish or the equivalent of fish absorption of 13.47 million tons.

This number increased to 3.83 percent compared to 2021 which was only 55.16 kg per capita / year or the equivalent of fresh whole fish.

The increase in fish consumption needs to be supported by the availability of quality fish in a continuous manner and easily accessible to the public.