Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia, opening the 3rd BTC and 6th ICTBF, 31st May & 1st June 2018

200 participants expected at the special two-day programme, hosted in Bali by Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), with support from IPNLF and AP2HI.

The 3rd Bali Tuna Conference (BTC) and the 6th International Coastal Tuna Business Forum (ICTBF), taking place at the Padma Hotel Bali, Indonesia, on 31st May and 1st June 2018, will be opened with an official address by Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia.

Highly regarded for her contribution to seafood sustainability as well as her crackdown on illegal fishing, Minister Pudjiastuti is a lifelong advocate for ocean health, with reforms including the ratification of the Port State Measures Agreement, the introduction of minimum catch sizes for certain species, banning the use of harmful fishing gear that threatens the environment, establishing marine protected areas and improving marine species protection. In 2017, she was the recipient of the SeaWeb Seafood Champion Award for Leadership.

Drawing on the lessons learned during an eminent career as a successful seafood entrepreneur­ and government minister, Minister Pudjiastuti will share with delegates the benefits of building and living by a strategy that provides long-term benefits for Indonesia rather than one focused on short-term gains. She will also emphasise the importance of delivering on visions and ensuring nothing is left to chance.

For 2018, the Indonesian Government has identified five tuna fishery priorities: improvements of the tuna data collection and the vessel registration systems; the development of a harvest strategy for tropical tuna in archipelagic waters; the development of a Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) management plan; the development of electronic reporting systems; and revision of the regulations for tuna fishing activities on the high seas. Delegates at BTC and ICTBF can therefore look forward to an update on these important government policies as well as international market opportunities and the requirements to access these opportunities as well as an update on social programmes and initiatives.

Hosted by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), BTC and ICTBF are again being supported by the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF), the non-profit association that is committed to developing and supporting responsible one-by-one tuna fisheries and supply chains, and the one-by-one tuna industry body Asosiasi Perikanan Pole & Line dan Handline Indonesia (AP2HI).

Running consecutively, these top-level stakeholder events provide the ideal opportunity for international brands and retailers interested in sourcing sustainable tuna from Southeast Asia to gain invaluable insight into Indonesia’s abundant resource and to build relationships with local stakeholders.

“We host these two successful events to demonstrate the very important contribution that our tuna fisheries make to the Government of Indonesia’s key goals of sovereignty, sustainability and prosperity. In bringing these companies and experts together, not only are MMAF, IPNLF and AP2HI facilitating important networking opportunities, we are also sharing the latest technical data available from across the value chain through informative presentations,” says Trian Yunanda of MMAF.

BTC and ICTBF were first incorporated into a single programme in 2016 – bringing diverse but interrelated sectors even closer together to ensure the sustainable development of Indonesia’s tuna fisheries. At the same time, the continued collaboration between MMAF, IPNLF and AP2HI provides a vital foundation for supporting the development of sustainable tuna fisheries in Indonesia. This work includes expediting improvements in the pole-and-line and handline fisheries to enable them to reach the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard for environmental sustainability, while also ensuring international seafood markets have access to the certified products once they become available.

Many leading international tuna brands and retailers who are looking to establish improved access to sustainable tuna resources will attend the events, where they will be joined by members of the commercial catching and processing sectors, NGOs and government officials. With 200 participants expected, the organisers suggest that delegates should book their place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Jeremy Crawford, Southeast Asia Director of IPNLF, comments, “Having Minister Pudjiastuti open this year’s BTC and ICTBF meetings is indicative of the Ministry’s strategy to form collaborative partnerships with commercial stakeholders. As well as underlining Indonesia’s position as a regional leader for sustainable, ethical and traceable tuna products, these efforts will provide the platform for greater food security, economic growth and job creation in coastal communities throughout the country and beyond.”

More information and registration instruction for BTC and ICTBF is available here.

This article was published in IPNLF website: http://www.ipnlf.org/news/susi-pudjiastuti-minister-of-marine-affairs-and-fisheries-of-the-republic-of-indonesia-opening-the-3rd-btc-and-6th-ictbf-31st-may-1st-june-2018 (available in English only)