Will North Sulawesi’s Fishers be Sidelined in Their Own Seas?
- September 4, 2025
by Karel Yerusa, Putra Satria Timur
As Indonesia prepares to roll out the Measured Fishing Policy (PIT) in January 2026, tuna fishers in North Sulawesi persist on asking a hard question: will they still have space to operate in their own waters? The concern was voiced at the Tuna Fisheries Co-Management Committee (FCMC) meeting in Bitung on August 26, where 67 stakeholders gathered to seek solutions.
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This year’s KPBP meeting focused on “Harmonizing the Measured Fishing Policy (PIT) and Port Services to Support the Sustainability of Handline and Pole-and-Line Tuna Fisheries in North Sulawesi.”
Organized by MDPI and the Indonesia Pole & Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI), the forum brought together 67 members from government officials, academics, industry representatives and fishers. The aim was to assess how PIT can be implemented without disrupting long-standing fishing practices.
Rising Concerns
Discussions centered on zoning rules under PIT, which many fishers say are out of step with reality. handline and pole-and-line vessels often shift between WPP 715 and 716 to secure baitfish, but rigid zoning could cut off that flexibility. These challenges made the discussion tough to process, and to digest.
Pole-and-line fishers also complained of falling catches as large pelagic purse-seine operations expand in WPP 715. Costs are climbing as well, with high logistics, a 10 per cent non-tax state revenue levy, and mandatory vessel monitoring systems (VMS) that are priced far beyond what small-scale fishers can afford.
Administrative bottlenecks add to the strain. Lengthy procedures for fish catch certificates (Surat Hasil Tangkapan Ikan; SHTI) delay exports and certification claims, while small islands still face shortages of ice, limited power and cold storage gaps.
“Fuel is expensive, zoning rules restrict us, and more vessels stop operating because policies don’t reflect our needs. We used to have 30 pole-and-line vessels, now only five or six are left,” said Junias Kokonama, a pole-and-line fisher from Bitung.
Stakeholders stressed the need for accurate data ahead of the 2026 quota system. MDPI director Yasmine Simbolon urged better data compliance among fishers. “Fishers must have their logbooks filled and their vessels registered to ensure fair quota allocation,” Yasmine urges.
Read also: MDPI Pursues Fisheries Social Risk Assessment Training
AP2HI chairman Abrizal Andrew Ang warned that the global market increasingly demands sustainable products. “The future belongs to those who stay consistent. Buyers are looking for eco-friendly fish, so we need to be united before facing the world,” he said.
Forum Recommendations
The meeting concluded with a set of action plans. Members urge for flexibility for both handline and pole-and-line vessels to operate across FMA 715 and 716. They also agreed upon closure of large purse-seine vessel operations in FMA 715.
Regarding administration and data collection, the forum urged to accelerate distribution of Fish Catch Certificate and digitization on catch data. Fishers also hope that the government would lower tax fees for eco-friendly gears and subsidies for VMS units on small vessels under 30 GT operating beyond 12 nautical miles.
To boost competitiveness, they recommended establishing a national “Indonesian Tuna Price” benchmark and an “Indonesian Sustainability Certification” to raise Indonesia’s profile in global markets. Infrastructure proposals included mangrove planting for live bait, re-registering fish aggregating devices with an amnesty program, and building cold storage on small islands.
Prof. Kawilarang Alex Masengi, who moderated the forum, summed up with a warning:
“North Sulawesi’s fisheries potential is worth USD 600 million annually, yet regional revenue is just a shy USD 73,000. This irony must be a wake-up call.”
Read also: Wailihang Tuna Fishing Tradition and the Struggles of Local Fishers
Next Step: Welcoming the Policy
The regular Tuna FCMC meeting shall become the foundation of a more upcoming concrete solution. Forum agreed to hold evaluations every four months to ensure the recommendations inform both national and regional policy, not just remain on paper.
