Tuna Fishery Opportunities and Challenges in Maluku Province, Southeast Sulawesi, and South Sulawesi

Jakarta (16/9). AP2HI attended the Focus Group Discussion event represented by several AP2HI member companies to provide information on conditions in the field regarding supply chains in Maluku Province, Southeast Sulawesi and South Sulawesi regarding tuna fishery opportunities and challenges.

This event was held by the Center for Marine and Fisheries Socio-Economic Research (BBRSEKP), which was held from 16 to 17 September 2021.

The event, which was opened by Dr. Rudi Alek Wahyudin, Head of the Center for Socio-Economic Research, was also part of research to provide input on the development of the Harvest Strategy of tuna fishery in Indonesia that considers socio-economic aspects in it where AP2HI had contributed to the scoping study in 2016.

Based on the distributed term of reference, it is explained that eastern Indonesia is one of the areas that have a high dependence on fishery resources, especially on tuna fisheries that are able to provide sources of income and food.

An important aspect of tuna fishing livelihoods/businesses that are highly dependent on social and environmental factors. USAID data 2017 states that tuna fishery fisheries in the waters of the archipelago approximately reach tens of thousands of people.

This has considerable potential social, economic and biological risks if associated with fisheries management actions.

In this FGD, Sella from AP2HI explained about the Opportunities and Challenges Tuna Fishery Supply Chain in South Sulawesi; R. Basuki from PT. Sultratuna Samudra explained about the Opportunities and Challenges Tuna Fishery Supply Chain in Southeast Sulawesi; and Robert Tjoanda from PT. Harta Samudra explained about Opportunities and Challenges Tuna Fishery Supply Chain in Maluku.

Aside from AP2HI, Umi Muawanah P.hD from BBRSEKP also provides exposure to community dependence on tuna fisheries in Indonesia; Askabul Kijo, Head of Province Marine and Fisheries Agency of Southeast Sulawesi gave an exposure on the Role of Tuna Fisheries in Southeast Sulawesi Province; and Viktor Lakada, Captain of tuna vessel in Bitung gave an exposure to the community’s dependence on tuna fishing efforts.

With this event BBRSEKP expected to get input on the socio-economic conditions of tuna fishery actors and present candidates for socio-economic indicators of tuna fisheries in Indonesia in relation to fisheries management actions.