Fisheries Co-Management Committee: Small-scale fisheries on the big stage

by A. Riza Baroqi, Bachori Dhian Pratama, dan Karel Yerusa

As three key national commodities, tuna, skipjack, and neritic tuna (TCT) fisheries play a vital role in the Indonesian economy. However, these fisheries still face many challenges related to fisheries resource utilization and in achieving sustainable management.

To address this issue, MDPI established a multi-stakeholder collaborative committee called the Data Management Committee in 2014, which was later renamed the Fisheries Co-Management Committee (FCMC) in 2019 to reflect its broader development. This committee was developed not only to discuss tuna fisheries data, but also current issues related to fisheries and coastal communities.

Active participation from various stakeholders is a central aspect of the FCMCs. They adhere to a collaboration-centered principle, with key values such as partnership, togetherness, openness, and efficiency in managing tuna fisheries. Along with representatives from the government, the industry, associations, academics, researchers, and NGOs, fishers also have the opportunity to actively participate in the planning and management processes of fisheries in Indonesia. These inclusive forums also involve fisheries stakeholders who are often not involved, such as small-scale fishers, mini-plant suppliers, and women from the fisheries ecosystem.

Provincial FCMC of Maluku spotlighting small-scale fisher (left) to speak about issues faced by coastal communities.

FCMCs hold two meetings per year at the provincial level to develop action plans that support improving data collection, fishers institutional strengthening, establishment of fisher-led cooperatives, development and utilization of traceability technology, implementation of the Harvest Strategy, and reinforcing market access. To ensure sustainable management, a Guidebook for Tuna Fisheries Co-Management, approved by six Provincial Heads of Marine and Fisheries Departments, was published as a reference for stakeholders.

FCMCs have received legal recognition and support from both the central and provincial governments. MDPI has facilitated the establishment of FCMCs in six provinces so far, namely Maluku, North Maluku, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi. The success of FCMCs has been replicated by AP2HI and Yayasan IPNLF Indonesia (YII), through the establishment of committees in West Papua and Southeast Sulawesi provinces. Each FCMC shows an increase in their capacity to discuss tuna management and implement agreed-upon work plans to improve adaptive management.

FCMCs continue to encourage the involvement of cross-sector stakeholders to exchange and discuss various fisheries issues. Topics discussed include tuna fishery management, conflict resolution, decision-making, as well as contributing to improving the implementation of management measures adopted by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) such as the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).

Fish measurement is one of the aspects of fishery data collection and implementation of FCMC work plan.

To bring fisheries issues observed at the provincial level to national level discussions, MDPI initiated a first regional FCMC meeting in 2019. This contributes to the efforts made to synergize to achieve sustainable and measurable use of tuna resources. Thus, various challenges that could not be overcome at the provincial level, are conveyed at the national level. Collaborating with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, to date, MDPI has successfully held five regional cross-sectoral dialogues to obtain recommendations for fisheries improvement related to challenges faced by tuna fisheries stakeholders in eight provinces namely East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Maluku, North Maluku, and West Papua.

FCMCs are expected to continue as forums that strengthen the roles of stakeholders in ensuring the balance of fisheries resources and socio-economic aspects of the community. The Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono supports these efforts and believes that tuna fisheries management can be carried out together.

“I hope that this committee can work together to monitor quota-based fishing. We must be able to rise and synergize to make Indonesia a world fish producer and the backbone of the nation’s economy,” he said during the third regional FCMC. Responding to this directive, FCMCs will continue to accommodate fisheries issues at the regional level and encourage collaboration among stakeholders in achieving responsible sustainable fisheries.

Watch the FCMC video below:

You can join the Regional FCMC virtually on May 23rd, 2023 at 8.00 GMT+8 here.