Indonesia to tighten regulation of tuna harvest in bid for sustainability

by Tanatchapoom (Tony) Mueantonthian

Indonesia is beginning to formalize its harvest strategy for tuna to protect the country’s wild stock, according to Mongabay. Much of the fishing grounds in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, which Indonesia straddles, are already fully exploited, with many tuna species subject to overfishing. The changes in harvest strategy strive to repopulate the tuna population, which will help the Indonesian government achieve sustainability certification for its fisheries. The sustainability certification will allow Indonesia to open to growing global demand for eco-labeled seafood. 

The global tuna fishery is valued at more than $40 billion annually, with Indonesia at the top of the list of highest annual value in tuna catches. Between 2012 and 2018, the country caught an average of 628,000 metric tons of fish annually, according to government data.

Perhaps in the future, Indonesia can not only boost its economy through a robust, sustainable tuna fishery but also help preserve its incredible marine ecosystems and biodiversity.