AP2HI head for MSC Certification and Welcome New Members in Second National Conference
On March 28th, AP2HI successfully held their Second National Conference. The total number of participants who attended the conference was 46, including 23 AP2HI members and officials, six AP2HI staff, two prospective members and 12 other invited participants. The conference started with an opening speech from Ir. Parulian Saut Hutagalung, M.Sc, an expert in cultural and socio-economics, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF). There were also welcoming speeches from the Chairman of AP2HI, Fishery Director of the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries (DJPT) MMAF and Director from Directorate General Competitiveness of Marine and Fisheries products (PDSPKP) MMAF.
The attending stakeholders at the Second National Conference were from a broad range of fisheries backgrounds, including the Directorate of Market access and Promotion PSDPKP MMAF, the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the Indonesian Fisheries Society Foundation (MDPI), Socio-Economic Fisheries Consultant, and Fisheries and Aquaculture for Food Security in Indonesia (FAFI).
The event, which was held at the Hotel Alia Cikini in Jakarta, achieved several outcomes including an agreement by members to continue programmes which support the Indonesian tuna Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification process and traceability. Those programs include data collection of catches and vessels, milkfish aquaculture, system enhancement of traceability, training and cooperation with government related to documents of tuna management plan, and the placement of observers.
Janti Djuari, Chairman of AP2HI also revealed some program proposals from AP2HI advisers which had also been accepted. The proposed activities are related to the substance of the fishery, advocacy, environmental education in coastal areas, improvements to the AP2HI website and social media channels, capacity building of fishermen and human resources of AP2HI.
“AP2HI should also be able to serve as keynote speakers in national and international forums” suggested Mr. Abrizal, a treasurer of AP2HI.
AP2HI also received lots of interest from prospect new members, including from the Fishermen Pole & Line Association Larantuka, three national fisheries companies and one international retailer. The membership interest from an Association of Fishermen was a first for AP2HI, but the application aligns with AP2HI’s code of conduct, and soon Fishermen Pole&Line Association Larantuka will officially become a member of AP2HI. The proposal from international retailer cannot be accommodated by the current AP2HI code of conduct. However, in the end the forum decided to hold an amendment.
“Currently, the forum will also consider making an amendment of AP2HI code of conduct in Article 7 paragraph 1 about the membership, to accommodate the approval of new members from abroad which are categorized as non-vote members (members who have no voting rights)”, said Janti.
The Forum also agreed to enhance cooperation with the Government (MMAF, KPDT and other relevant institutions), donor agencies, national and international NGOs, who have the same viewpoint towards moving fisheries business in Indonesia to sustainable fisheries. She elaborated in her speech by saying, “From the addition to our membership network, we hope to be able to work together in improving all of AP2HI’s programs in sustainable fishing.”
AP2HI will also work to enhance their collaborations with current partners such as USAID-Oceans, UNIDO and MDPI as well as to other potential partners.
Written by: Mila
