“Transforming Indonesia’s Fisheries Governance” brings together policies, scientific knowledge, and lessons from the field towards sustainable fisheries governance and the Blue Economy

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono emphasized the importance of recognizing the ocean as a source of life whose sustainability must be safeguarded. He stressed that the use of marine resources for economic purposes must remain balanced with the capacity of ecosystems to sustain the lives of communities and future generations.

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono with the writing and editorial team of the book “Transforming Indonesia’s Fisheries Governance” during a meeting at the ZEE Meeting Room, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) Office, Jakarta, Thursday (13 August 2026). The meeting focuses on the substance and direction of the book's refinement as part of efforts to document the transformation of Indonesia's fisheries governance towards sustainable and equitable resource management that supports the Blue Economy.

This idea was one of the key topics discussed during the meeting between the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and the authors and editors of the book “Transforming Indonesia’s Fisheries Governance” at the ZEE Meeting Room, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Office, Jakarta, Thursday (13 August 2026).

The meeting discussed the substance and direction of the book’s refinement, which documents ideas, policies, experiences, and lessons learned from the transformation of fisheries governance in Indonesia.

The meeting was chaired by Moh. Abdi Suhufan, Senior Adviser to the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries on Fishers and Fishing Vessel Crew Protection, who explained that the book was prepared to bridge government policies with public understanding of the direction of change in Indonesia’s fisheries governance.

Moh. Abdi Suhufan, Senior Adviser to the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries on Fishers and Fishing Vessel Crew Protection, chairs a meeting between the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and the Authors and Editors of the book “Transforming Indonesia’s Fisheries Governance” in Jakarta, 13 August 2026.

According to Abdi, Indonesia has significant fisheries resources, while at the same time facing various challenges, including pressure on fish stocks, overfishing, depleted fish stocks, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the growing need for data- and science-based management.

In this context, Quota-Based Fisheries (PIT) has become an important instrument in transforming capture fisheries governance. However, the book is not intended solely to explain PIT. Its scope is broader, examining how the fisheries management system as a whole can be developed in a sustainable, equitable, and measurable manner while providing business certainty and benefits for communities.

Balancing Ecological and Economic Interests

During the discussion, the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries emphasized that marine economic development must remain within the limits of ecosystem capacity.

This perspective is aligned with the Blue Economy framework, which places the protection of the ocean and its resources at the heart of development. The policy framework includes expanding marine conservation areas, reducing pressure on fish stocks through quota-based fisheries, developing sustainable aquaculture, and strengthening the monitoring and control of coastal areas and small islands.

Within this framework, marine development is not aimed solely at increasing economic activity, but also at ensuring that marine resources and ecosystems remain capable of providing benefits over the long term.

Prof. La Sara, Wakil Ketua Komnas Kajiskan sekaligus salah satu penulis buku “Transformasi Tata Kelola Perikanan Indonesia”, menghadiri pertemuan pembahasan dan penyusunan buku di Jakarta, 13 Agustus 2026.

This perspective broadens the understanding of PIT. Fisheries management is not simply about how much fish can be harvested, but also about maintaining fish stocks, protecting ecosystems, increasing the economic value of fisheries products, and ensuring that the benefits reach communities.

From Pursuing Production to Creating Added Value

During the discussion, Prof. La Sara, Vice Chair of Komnas Kajiskan (National Scientific Commission on Stock Assessment), emphasized the importance of ensuring that fisheries resource management ultimately delivers benefits to communities.

Dr. Suhana, Vice Rector of Muhammadiyah University of Technology Jakarta, with the authors’ team during the development of the book “Transforming Indonesia’s Fisheries Governance” in Jakarta, 13 August 2026.

Meanwhile, Dr. Suhana, Vice Rector of Muhammadiyah University of Technology Jakarta, encouraged a shift in the orientation of fisheries development from simply pursuing production volumes towards improving the quality and economic value of fisheries products. Improving fisher livelihoods does not necessarily require increasing catch volumes, but can also be achieved through efficiency, product quality, processing, downstream development, and value addition.

Dr. T. Ersti Yulika Sari, an academic from Universitas Riau, presents an ecological perspective to enrich the substance of the book “Transforming Indonesia’s Fisheries Governance” in Jakarta, 13 August 2026.

The ecological perspective was further reinforced by Dr. T. Ersti Yulika Sari, an academic from Universitas Riau, who emphasized the importance of allowing ecosystems and fish stocks sufficient space and time to recover. Fisheries management needs to take into account environmental carrying capacity and resource dynamics so that resource use does not come at the expense of ocean sustainability.

These perspectives demonstrate that transforming fisheries governance requires a balance between economic interests and the capacity of ecosystems to provide resources.

Lessons from the Field

Experiences from implementation at the local level were also part of the discussion. Dr. Adipati Rahmat Gumelar, Project Manager of Global Environment Facility-6 Coastal Fisheries Initiative (GEF-6 CFI) Indonesia, emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from field experience to strengthen fisheries governance.

Dr. Adipati Rahmat Gumelar, Project Manager of GEF-6 CFI Indonesia and one of the authors of the book “Transforming Indonesia’s Fisheries Governance,” shares perspectives on the economic institutions of small-scale fishers based on good practices developed through project implementation.

Through GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, a number of lessons have been documented, including experiences in strengthening communities and institutions in Red-White Fisher Villages (KMNPs) of Labetawi, Tual City, and Wailihan, Buru Regency. These experiences demonstrate that fisheries policies need to be translated into strengthened community and institutional capacity, economic activities, and resource management that delivers tangible benefits at the local level.

Lessons from the field are expected to enrich the perspective for developing national fisheries policies that are not only supported by a strong regulatory framework, but are also relevant and applicable to communities.

Transformation Requires an Institutional Paradigm

From an institutional perspective, Kamarudin Azis, a marine and fisheries journalist, highlighted the importance of establishing an institutional paradigm in transforming fisheries governance.

Kamarudin Azis, a marine and fisheries journalist, attends the meeting as an editor of the book “Transforming Indonesia’s Fisheries Governance” in Jakarta, 13 August 2026.

Resource management cannot rely on regulations alone. Strong institutions, knowledge, governance, and clear roles are needed to ensure that resources are managed in the long-term interest.

Therefore, the transformation of fisheries governance must be understood as a comprehensive change that connects fisheries resources, ecosystems, communities, the economy, institutions, data, scientific knowledge, and technology.

Expanding the Perspective on Fisheries Governance Transformation

In the final session of the meeting, the discussion focused on the importance of viewing the transformation of Indonesia’s fisheries governance from a more comprehensive perspective.

Fisheries management is not limited to regulating fishing activities, but is part of an interconnected system involving ecosystem sustainability, resource use, community well-being, institutional strengthening, scientific knowledge, and marine economic growth.

Within this framework, Quota-Based Fisheries is an important instrument for ensuring that the utilization of fisheries resources is conducted in a measured and responsible manner. Its implementation needs to be situated within the broader transformation of fisheries governance and integrated with the Blue Economy agenda.

This perspective is an important part of refining the book “Transforming Indonesia’s Fisheries Governance,” which is expected not only to document policies, but also to capture the journey, ideas, experiences, and lessons learned from various stakeholders in building sustainable fisheries governance in Indonesia.

The book is expected to provide a comprehensive overview of Indonesia's fisheries development priorities, ranging from ecosystem and fish-resource protection, data- and science-based management, strengthening fishers and institutions, increasing economic value addition, to creating more equitable benefits for coastal communities.

The Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries with the Authors and Editors of the book “Transforming Indonesia’s Fisheries Governance” following a meeting on the development of the book as a reference for transforming sustainable fisheries governance and strengthening the Blue Economy. Jakarta, 13 August 2026.

The book, involving 36 authors and editors from government, academia, research institutions, fisheries experts, and marine and fisheries journalists, is expected to serve as both a knowledge product and a public communication medium.

Ultimately, transforming Indonesia’s fisheries governance is not simply about regulating fishing activities. It is also about keeping the ocean healthy, ensuring that resources remain available for future generations, increasing economic value, and ensuring that coastal communities receive an equitable share of the benefits generated by Indonesia’s marine resources.

The ocean is a source of life. Therefore, marine economic development must go hand in hand with our ability to safeguard its ecosystems. This spirit is central to the transformation of Indonesia’s fisheries governance towards the Blue Economy and Golden Indonesia.