PT. Harta Samudra Shared Their Success at the Economist Event: South-East Asia and Pacific Regional Fisheries Summit

The Economist Event: the South-East Asia and Pacific Regional Fisheries Summit was hosted by the Economist, with support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation at Shangri La Hotel, Jakarta, 27-28 July 2016. AP2HI proudly collaborates with the Economist as part of supporting organizations to socialize this event at social media. The event discussed highly important issues including effort on combating IUU fishing, the country’s economic development through sustainable fisheries, sustainable financing initiatives and social aspect of fisheries. Minister Susi Pudjiastuti gave her speech as keynote speaker and mentioned on the importance of combating IUU fishing.

One of AP2HI member, Mr. Robert Tjoanda from PT. Harta Samudra shared his success in front of international audience at discussion session. PT. Harta Samudra managed to develop a system that transparent, accountable and traceable, and also managed to build good relationship with local fishermen. They hold the Fair Trade certification in 2014 for Hand-line Yellow Fin Tuna, with support from MDPI.

During this event there were a lot of interesting topics presented, some of it was including the innovation in fishing industry in which become more and more transparent and traceable. Google and Skytruth demonstrate of the new age of transparency and traceability with the use of Global Fishing Watch (GFW). Bali Seafood International had recently signed up all of the small vessel that were connected to GFW Program to the new VMS (Vessel Monitoring System). By the end of this year, this project will be available for public and soon Indonesia will also signed up for this GFW Program.

At this forum, scientists are worry if fisheries in Indonesia run as BAU (Business As Usual) then in the long term we will see decreasing of fisheries resources that threat to food security and ecosystem destruction. Even if fisheries reformed, wild-catch fisheries alone will not enough for future demand for seafood. We need also aquaculture sectors to fill the gap. Panelist said that one of the solutions for decreasing of fisheries resources will be to implement the catch chares and also RBFM (Right Based Fisheries Management) or TURF (Territorial Use Right for Fisheries). Early project of TURF shown that is not feasible yet to economy which is very high cost.

There are many investors now showing an interest in the fisheries business, but there is a lack of product for them to engage, thus we need a “pipeline” to connect the product with the investors. The main factors for enabling the condition for suistanable fisheries bussiness are enforcement, incentive for sustainable fisheries practices, low interest loan and grant from collective CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility).

Investment on sustainable fisheries is at early stage in developed countries. OJK (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan) or finance monitoring institution in Indonesia has also start the initiative. They has division related to sustainable financing that can give investment for sustainable fisheries business, for example for infrastructure development. The product is called JARING and collaborates with BCA, BNI and Mandiri.

Most of audiences agreed that champion come from NGO/goverment /private sector is needed and shall be empowered or enabled. PT. Harta Samudra has proved that they are one of leading industries that take further steps on practicing the traceability system for seafood product (Niomi).