KPBP Gorontalo seeks to encourage growth of domestic tuna fisheries

The Gorontalo Provincial Government collaborated with civil society organizations, industry players, and academics at the regular meeting of the Joint Fisheries Management Committee (KPBP) Gorontalo to encourage the growth of the tuna fisheries industry. This initiative aims to strengthen synergy between stakeholders in sustainable fisheries resource management.

KPBP Gorontalo serves as a platform for cooperation to address various challenges in the fisheries sector, which is the main focus of development in Gorontalo Province.

"Gorontalo Province generates around Rp3.8 billion from the capture fisheries sector, and 40 percent of that is produced by the tuna, skipjack tuna, and mackerel tuna commodities. These 'primadonna' commodities are vital for the domestic market and to opportunities for export," said Gorontalo Province Marine and Fisheries Office Head Sila Nurainsyah Botutihe.

Gorontalo Province, which is surrounded by the Republic of Indonesia Fisheries Management Area (WPPNRI) 715 and 716 that included the Sulawesi Sea and Tomini Bay, has abundant fisheries potential. Those waters have been registered to earn the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for yellowfin tuna commodities so that fisheries industry players and fishermen who want to access the export market could swiftly do so.

"We are trying to get the Sustainable Fisheries Improvement Program and MSC certification requested by the European Union and United States (US) markets. The global market opportunity is very large, and good for the sustainability of Gorontalo's fisheries and economy. If we can answer this request, it is possible that our economy will continue to grow [well] and tuna stocks will remain sustainable in the next 10-20 years," said Indonesian Pole & Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI) Fisheries Manager Herman.

KPBP Gorontalo will also focus on increasing the capacity of fishermen in meeting legal requirements to access the export market. Interested fishermen will be assisted by civil society organizations, such as the Indonesian Fisheries and Community Foundation MDPI at the small-scale fisherman level and AP2HI at the industry level, to fulfill said requirements.

"The responsibility for increasing the productivity of the fisheries sector does not only lie on the shoulders of the regional government. [As] the government has limitations, we must work together to manage Gorontalo fisheries," said MDPI Director Yasmine Simbolon.

"The challenges of exporting to the US and European markets, such as the numerous requirements to fulfill [export] legality for small scale fishermen and [the fisheries] industry, are currently getting tougher [to overcome]. We hope that the regional government could help accelerate [the fulfillment of] export requirements," said Muhammad Saripi of PT Bintang Laut Sejahtera.

Gorontalo is also targeting to improve the quality of local tuna fisheries for consumption. KPBP Gorontalo focuses specifically on increasing domestic micro enterprise productivity through the management of fisheries production by coastal communities to help them achieve sustained economic growth.