Sustainable Indonesian Tuna: AP2HI Empowers 30,000 Fishers at JITEX 2026
Jakarta – The Indonesian Pole & Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI), alongside the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), and other strategic international partners, continues to strengthen the position of Indonesian tuna products in the global arena.
This synergy was emphasized during the Asian Food and Ecosystem (AFEX) Summit at the Jakarta International Investment, Trade, Tourism, and SMEs Expo (JITEX 2026) in Jakarta on September 17, 2026. This forum served as a crucial space to ensure that the Indonesian tuna fishing industry remains sustainable, highly traceable, and competitive in the international market.
AP2HI’s Eco-Friendly Tuna Fishing Principles
Representing the voices of around 30,000 fishers and 69 member companies, Ilham Alhaq, Technical and Management Support of AP2HI, emphasized that Indonesian Tuna is a product that firmly upholds the principles of being sustainable, responsible, traceable, and people-centered. The Indonesian pole & line and handline fishing industry focuses on a one-by-one catching method to preserve the fragile marine ecosystem.
An AP2HI fisher pulling in tuna using the eco-friendly one-by-one catching method in Indonesian waters. © AP2HI
“We have invested in sustainability, certification, traceability, and data quality. What’s next? Who pays for this sustainability? If the market demands greater responsibility for fishery products, then the market must also recognize and value it,” said Ilham while presenting the Road to Global Market vision at JITEX 2026.
MSC Global Certification and Global Consumer Demands
AP2HI’s long journey in managing this sustainable industry has been pioneered since the program’s initiation in 2014, followed by the official brand launch in 2019. This dedication bore fruit with the achievement of prestigious global certifications from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Fair Trade in 2021, as well as recognition as GDST Capable in 2025, which guarantees global traceability standards. In 2026, AP2HI began expanding its initiatives through the Community Catch program.
MSC Program Director Hirmen Syofyanto, who was also in attendance, confirmed that global consumer expectations and awareness regarding seafood products have changed drastically. Consumers and retailers continue to demand concrete proof regarding sustainable raw material sources and strict compliance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.
“Currently, 71 percent of global consumers want to know for sure that the fish they buy can be traced back to a known and trusted source. The global market demands sustainable fisheries, evidenced by the fact that 58 percent of the global wild tuna catch, or about 3.43 million tons, now comes from MSC-certified fisheries,” said Hirmen.
KKP’s STELINA Innovation for Fish Traceability
In line with these global market demands, the Head of the Overseas Market Mapping and Analysis Working Team, Directorate General of Marine and Fisheries Product Competitiveness of KKP, Helwijaya Marpaung, explained that the government has implemented the National Fish Traceability and Logistics System (STELINA).
This real-time digital reporting system integrates all data from the catching, cultivation, distribution, processing, to marketing phases to ensure transparency and guarantee that the fish are completely free from Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing practices.
“Trade barriers today are no longer just about tariffs, but increasingly stringent standards. Food safety, traceability, carbon footprints, and sustainability certifications are now absolute priorities. Therefore, a system like STELINA is crucial for expanding market access and increasing the trust of global buyers,” Helwijaya asserted.
Expansion Opportunities for Indonesian Tuna Exports
This infrastructure and certification readiness serves as a valuable asset for Indonesia, which currently ranks fifth as the world’s largest tuna exporting country, with export values exceeding USD 1.04 billion in 2025.
Archipelagic tuna is now poised to expand by maximizing the lower import tariff advantages in the United States at 10 percent compared to competitor countries (12.5 percent), utilizing the 0 percent tariff through the I-EU CEPA in Europe, and capitalizing on major opportunities in China following the agreement to resume fishing cooperation in August 2026.
The exhibition atmosphere and the introduction of premium processed seafood products at JITEX 2026. © AP2HI
Through this cross-sector collaboration, AP2HI encourages harmony between marine conservation and economic justice, ensuring that the management of tuna fisheries in Indonesia not only complies with international regulations but also provides a fair economic value for the heroes on the front lines: the small-scale fishers across the archipelago.
