Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries on Wednesday launched the National Action Plan for Small-Scale Fisheries Management to improve the welfare and sustainability of small-scale fishers.”Small-scale fisheries are the cornerstone of coastal welfare and food security,” said Hendra Yusran Siry, an expert staff member of the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister, at the launch of the action plan in Jakarta.He noted that the action plan is a strategic document that affirms the direction of national policy in alignment with the FAO Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Guidelines and Law Number 7 of 2016 concerning the Protection and Empowerment of Fishers, Fish Farmers, and Salt Farmers.This is intended to protect and empower small-scale fishers, strengthen collaborative governance, increase supply chain value, and ensure measurable implementation.The action plan is also expected to be used as operational guidelines that bolster synergy between stakeholders at the central and regional levels.The document is a key instrument to achieve small-scale fisher welfare, safeguard national food security, and support Indonesia’s Blue Economy 2025 vision.Siry explained that the action plan will encourage reviews on the state of small-scale fisheries management and improvement of the community’s awareness of the importance of small-scale fisheries management.Furthermore, it will serve as a reference for stakeholders in strengthening the contribution of small-scale fisheries towards improving fisher welfare, the sustainability of fisheries management, and national food security.”In line with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries’ Blue Economy vision, our policy rests on the principle of safeguarding ecology, and therefore, the action plan must become a working tool across units, regions, and partners, and not just a mere document,” he remarked.Wednesday’s launch event also featured the signing of cooperation agreements between the ministry and several strategic partners, including WWF Indonesia, on improving sustainable capture fisheries management.Siry underscored that the cross-sector collaboration serves as a crucial milestone for strengthening the blue economy ecosystem, which spotlights a balance between ecological sustainability and increased economic welfare for coastal communities.He also affirmed that the action plan integrates three main pillars: the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM), decent work and social protection, and occupational safety for small-scale fishers across Indonesia.The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries underlined that the action plan’s success is measured by the increase in fishers’ income, the quality of their catch, and the sustainability of Indonesia’s marine ecosystem.
Indonesia launches action plan to boost small-scale fisheries
