The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) of the Republic of Indonesia, together with its partners, held the Annual Meeting of the Fisheries Management Units (FMU) for Fisheries Management Areas of the Republic of Indonesia (WPPNRI) 713, 714, and 715 to discuss strategic steps for sustainable national fisheries management. The event took place on July 16–18, 2025 at the Science and Technology (IPTEKS) Building, Hasanuddin University, Makassar City.

This meeting is part of efforts to implement the Measured Fishing (PIT) policy to create a sustainable, fair, and data-based national fisheries management system. Supported by GEF 6 CFI Indonesia and the Tuna Consortium, the meeting was attended by 137 participants, including the Executive Coordinators of WPPNRI 713, 714, and 715 FMUs; representatives from Provincial Marine and Fisheries Offices; academics; associations; business actors; fishers; university learning centers; the National Scientific Commission on Stock Assessment (Komnas KAJISKAN); NGOs; WWF GEF Agency; and other KKP partners.

Director of PSDI DJPT Dr. Syahril Abd Raup, accompanied by the Executive Coordinators of WPPNRI 713, 714, and 715 FMUs at the Annual Meeting held on July 16–18, 2025 at Unhas–IPTEKS Building, Makassar City

Director of Fish Resources Management (PSDI) at the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries (DJPT), Dr. Syahril Abd Raup, as Chair of the Organizing Committee, stated that the meeting focused on determining tuna fishing quotas in WPPNRI 713, 714, and 715. The agenda included plenary sessions, group discussions, and the drafting of agreements and annual work plans for each FMU. In addition to tuna, the government is prioritizing four other main commodities for immediate quota setting, namely transparent lobster seed, squid, snapper and grouper, and shrimp.

“It is expected that this forum will serve as an important momentum to promote fair, sustainable, and region-based fisheries governance,” he said.

He explained that the Fisheries Management Institution (LPP) of WPPNRI is now the main coordination forum for cross-sectoral fisheries management at both national and regional levels. LPP not only implements the Fisheries Management Plan (RPP) but also provides science-based recommendations on quota and sustainability policies. Syahril emphasized WPPNRI LPP’s strategic role in supporting PITpolicy as a multi-stakeholder coordination forum, ensuring its implementation is carried out simultaneously and synergistically across all WPPNRI.

The meeting was also attended by the Director General of Capture Fisheries of MMAF, the Rector of Hasanuddin University, and the Head of the South Sulawesi Provincial Marine Affair and Fisheries Office.

Director General of Capture Fisheries at MMAF, Police Commissioner General (Ret.) Drs. Lotharia Latif, S.H., M.Hum., accompanied by the Director of PSDI DJPT and the Head of South Sulawesi Provincial MAF Office, took part in a doorstop interview session with journalists at the CFI Indonesia Champions’ Product Exhibition Booth, Unhas–IPTEKS Building, Makassar City (May 16, 2025)

Director General of Capture Fisheries at MMAF, Police Commissioner General (Ret.) Drs. Lotharia Latif, S.H., M.Hum., conveyed a message from the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries that the meeting should not merely be ceremonial but should produce concrete recommendations that can be followed up with real action. He stressed that sustainability of the fisheries sector, its contribution to non-tax state revenue (PNBP), and improvement of fishers’ welfare must remain top priorities in every policy.

Lotharia underlined the importance of transforming fisheries management through the application of quota-based measured fishing (PIT) as part of the Blue Economy policy implementation. He also highlighted the vital role of WPPNRI LPP as a coordinating forum that produces data-driven recommendations.

“Without data, we could only guess. Quotas must be calculated so that fish stocks are not depleted and can be passed on to future generations,” he asserted.

He expressed hope that the three-day meeting would produce concrete recommendations to promote competitive and sustainable management of the marine and fisheries sector.

The Rector of Hasanuddin University (Unhas), Prof. Dr. Ir. Jamaluddin Jompa, M.Sc., delivered a speech at the Annual Meeting of WPPNRI 713, 714, and 715 FMUs at Unhas–IPTEKS Building, Makassar City (May 16, 2025)

Rector of Hasanuddin University (Unhas), Prof. Dr. Ir. Jamaluddin Jompa, M.Sc., expressed appreciation for the trust given to Unhas to host this strategic meeting. He stated that holding the meeting on campus is a tangible contribution of Unhas to supporting national development and strengthening synergy with MMAF for the advancement of Indonesia. He affirmed Unhas’s commitment to actively support national policies, particularly in implementing PIT in WPPNRI 713.

“Unhas is ready to support the strengthening of Indonesia’s marine resource management, starting with WPPNRI 713 as a showcase,” he said.

The three-day meeting produced various work plans for 2025–2026 and strategic recommendations to address priority issues in FMU of WPPNRI 713, 714, and 715. These include agreeing to implement local fisher quotas for yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, and skipjack; strengthening the role and institutional function of WPPNRI 715 FMU as a coordinating body for fisheries management in the area; and a plan for the provincial government to send letters to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding revenue-sharing issues of capture fisheries non-tax state revenue (PNBP), with a copy sent to MMAF.

The group/commission discussion session of WPPNRI 715 FMU was attended by representatives from provincial MAF offices, academics, associations, business actors, fishers, university learning centers, the National Commission for Fish Stock Assessment (Komnas KAJISKAN), NGOs, WWF GEF Agency, PMU GEF–6 CFI Indonesia, and the Tuna Consortium at the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries Building, Hasanuddin University, Makassar City (May 16, 2025)

WPPNRI 715 FMU also proposed other recommendations, including: having the WPPNRI 715 Scientific Panel study fishing season patterns across zones as a basis for revising PIT zone allocations; conducting socialization, providing assistance, and submitting proposals to simplify the PKKPRL licensing process for rumpon (fish aggregating devices), as well as inventorying rumpon position data to help determine their optimal allocation in provincial waters; sending letters to the WPPNRI LPP National Secretariat regarding violations of fishing area regulations for flying fish eggs in WPPNRI 715; and carrying out outreach, technical guidance, and providing incentives for logbook data entry at fishing centers by fishing ports, local governments, and partners.

Sintawati and Sri Fani Mony, CFI Indonesia Champions from Ambon City and Southeast Maluku, shared their group’s best practices in the group/commission discussion session of WPPNRI 715 FMU (May 16, 2025)

On the sidelines of the event, CFI Indonesia and its Champions showcased products from their assisted groups and shared knowledge outputs. Sintawati and Sri Fani Mony, Champions from Ambon City and Southeast Maluku, presented their groups’ best practices, which received appreciation from participants of the WPPNRI 713, 714, and 715 FMUs annual meeting.