Elevating Indonesian Marine Aquarium Fisheries to the National Level

2024-08-07 10:54 AM - By Dr. Paul Anderson

Guest Author:  Ryannyka Dwi Astuti, Research and Education Manager, LINI

This past Spring, the IndoReefFish Team convened for a workshop with marine aquarium fishery stakeholders in Indonesia. These stakeholders included representatives from the country's national fisheries agency, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), the national research agency BRIN, and the marine aquarium exporters associations INOFE and AKKII. These organizations came together to elevate the conversation of marine aquarium fisheries sustainability to the national level, introducing the program IndoReefFish.

Mr. Sarminto from Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs (R) with The Campaign's Director Paul Anderson (L). Mr. Sarminto spoke on the Ministry's management of protected fish species. Photo by R. Jakub/Rare.

Mr. Sarminto (MMAF) spoke of the Ministry's management of protected fish species.  These include several aquarium fish species, both freshwater and marine, listed in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).  For example, in partnership with other Indonesian stakeholders including IndoReefFish partner LINI, the Ministry has executed a comprehensive fishery management program for the Banggai cardinalfish, a species uniquely vulnerable to fishing pressure.  These efforts came about as an outcome of years of international deliberations over the management of this species in CITES meetings.  In fact, the nation has named this species a Nationally Protected Species in 2018. 


For the broader marine aquarium trade, however; there are no specific regulations regarding marine aquarium fishes.  The marine aquarium fishery falls under the governance of the Directorate General of Aquaculture.  Fortunately, the nation's provincial Quarantine offices record aquarium fishes traded into and out of the provinces, providing a valuable trade data resource.  However, the quality and completeness of the data can vary across provinces.


The Indonesian research agency BRIN acknowledges the complexity of this fishery and trade, and is beginning to unravel this complexity through its Indonesia MANTAP program, which seeks to understand the biodiversity and socioeconomics of the trade.

LINI's Research Officer Adriel Prayoga presents an overview of the Indonesian marine aquarium fish trade. Photo by R. Dwi Astuti/LINI.


LINI's Research Officer Adriel Prayoga followed with an overview of Indonesia's marine aquarium fish trade.  Having focused on the sustainable development of the nation's marine aquarium fishery and trade since its inception in 2008, LINI has a keen understanding of its dynamics to share with stakeholders. 

IndoReefFish is a program brought to Indonesia by the public aquarium community, out of a recognized need to develop a model for sustainable sourcing of marine aquarium fishes that links public aquaria and zoos to the reefs that they exhibit, and the people whose livelihoods depend on those reefs.  To this end, Shedd Aquarium's Chief Animal Operations Officer Peggy Sloan presented this initiative on behalf of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to the audience--all the way from Chicago!

Rare's Applied Science Director Raymond Jakub speaks on the integration of Rare's Managed Access + Reserves approach to sustainable fisheries management with the IndoReefFish program. Photo by R. Dwi Astuti/LINI.


The Coral Reef Aquarium Fisheries Campaign's Director Paul Anderson delivered an overview of the goal, aims, and planned programming of IndoReefFish, followed by a presentation from Rare's Applied Science Director Raymond Jakub on Rare's Managed Access + Reserves
 approach to sustainable marine fisheries management; and its aim to integrate its approach into the IndoReefFish program in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia.
INOFE's Secretary Wiwie lays out Indonesia's member exporters' commitments to sustainable business practices. Photo by P. Anderson/CRAFC.

The IndoReefFish Team presentations were followed by a presentation by Wiwie, Secretary of INOFE, the country's marine aquarium fish exporters' association; who laid out a comprehensive strategy affirming the organization's commitment to promoting sustainable business practices among its members.


Overall, the IndoReefFish program received a warm welcome from all invited representatives, encompassing both industry and government sectors.  An optimistic outlook emerged of the potential for the program to extend involvement of stakeholders to other relevant institutions and organizations, elevating the priority of marine aquarium fisheries management at the national level.


IndoReefFish is empowered by its partners, and the support of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and marine aquarium fishery businesses, associations, and agencies across Indonesia. This program is sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Dr. Paul Anderson

Dr. Paul Anderson

Director, The Coral Reef Aquarium Fisheries Campaign
https://www.aquariumfisheries.com/

Dr. Anderson has co-managed $2.3M in grants, contracts, & scholarships, authored 30 scientific & popular publications, delivered over 300 presentations to global audiences of all ages, & developed 11 exhibits. His work has been featured in multiple international national news & media outlets.