The Annual Meeting of Fisheries Management Units (UPPs) for Fisheries Management Areas of the Republic of Indonesia (WPPNRI) 572 and 573, held on November 27, 2025 at EDTC PKSPL IPB University, marked a strategic milestone in strengthening national fisheries governance. The event was facilitated by GEF-6 CFI Indonesia as part of replicating the best practice of quota-based Measurable Fishing (PIT) already implemented in WPP 715, 717, and 718. The forum convened stakeholders—including UPPs, the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries, academics, Komnas Kajiskan, BRIN, and the GEF-6 PMU—to consolidate data and reinforce scientific foundations for fisheries management.

The implementation of The Annual Meeting of Fisheries Management Units (UPPs) for Fisheries Management Areas of the Republic of Indonesia (WPPNRI) 572 and 573 at EDTC PKSPL IPB University, Bogor. 27 November 2025 

National Policy Direction and the Importance of Scientific Data

Syahril Abd Raup, Director of Fisheries Resource Management (PSDI), underscored the critical role of scientific panels in supporting responsible and sustainable fisheries management. He emphasized that national policies are aligned with the Asta Cita 2025–2029 development agenda, the Blue Economy framework, and quota-based PIT implementation under Government Regulation No. 11/2023. Within this framework, quota determination for priority commodities—such as tuna, octopus, squid, snapper, and grouper—must be grounded in the latest scientific evidence. Research institutions, scientists, and academics play a key role in ensuring accurate, evidence-based decision-making.

Director of PSDI, Syahril Abd Raup, officially opened the Annual Meeting of UPPs for WPPNRI 572 and 573 in Bogor. 27 November 2025

Syahril stressed that strengthening food security and independence in the fisheries sector can only be achieved through integrated and measurable quota-based management. Scientific panels serve as a platform for aligning data, reinforcing scientific validation, and producing comprehensive policy recommendations.

FMA-Based Management Model: Replication and UPP Strengthening

Adipati Rahmat, Project Manager of GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, explained that the operationalization of UPP at the territorial level brings significant opportunities to enhance fisheries governance in Indonesia. The management cycle developed—from data collection and validation to data processing, scientific panels, and quota setting—represents an ideal model, characterized by inclusiveness and a bottom-up approach.

The replication of best practices from WPP 715–717–718 has successfully strengthened transparency, improved data quality, and ensured quota decisions truly reflect actual stock conditions. This foundation supports the establishment of a science-based management framework that can become a national governance standard.

 Project Manager of GEF 6 CFI Indonesia, Adipati Rahmat

Scientific Findings: Status of Fish Stocks in FMAs 572 and 573

1. FMA 572: Skipjack Tuna Under Pressure and Overexploited

The scientific panel concluded that skipjack tuna stocks in FMA 572 are currently classified as overexploited. Several indicators demonstrate high fishing pressure, including declining CPUE, SPR values below 20%, MSY estimates of approximately 22,000–25,000 tons per year, B/BMSY ratios below 1, and F/FMSY ratios above 1. These conditions signal a high risk of stock depletion that could threaten long-term sustainability.

Panel recommendations include:

• Prioritizing management of over-exploited and fully-exploited stocks.
• Reducing the catch of immature fish to below 10%.
• Implementing minimum catch size regulations.
• Establishing quotas based on validated logbook and landing data.
• Reducing skipjack quotas in the following year to enable stock recovery.
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2. FMA 573: Overfishing Trends in Yellowfin Tuna

In the southern Bali–Nusa Tenggara region, the panel recorded a high proportion of Yellowfin Tuna caught before reaching gonad maturity (FLm 100–110 cm). Data from 2017–2021 indicate signs of growth and recruitment overfishing, potentially leading to broader overfishing concerns.

Key recommendations include:

• Strengthening consistent tuna data collection.
• Integrating utilization data across government, industry, and development partners.
• Enforcing stricter monitoring of minimum catch size compliance.

Towards Stronger Fisheries Governance

The UPP meeting for FMAs 572–573 reflects Indonesia’s commitment to establishing evidence-based, inclusive, and adaptive fisheries governance. With the support of GEF 6 CFI Indonesia, the PIT quota-setting process is no longer a merely administrative exercise, but a strategic approach to ensure the sustainability of national fish stocks. These efforts ultimately aim to improve fisher livelihoods, safeguard marine resources, and uphold the long-term prosperity of Indonesia’s fisheries sector for future generations.