The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), in collaboration with GEF 6 CFI Indonesia and WWF Indonesia, held a Meeting on Updating the Implementation of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) at the Center for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies or CCMRS (PKSPL) IPB, Bogor, on May 27, 2025.

The Meeting on Updating the Implementation of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) at the Center for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies (PKSPL) IPB, Bogor, on May 27, 2025.

Held in a hybrid format, the meeting was attended by over 50 participants from various sectors including central and local government, academics, practitioners, conservation organizations, and development partners. The main goal was to strengthen the implementation of the ecosystem-based approach in fisheries management to support the strategic policy of Measured Fishing (PIT) under KKP's Blue Economy framework.

In his opening remarks, Syahril Abd Raup, Director of Fish Resources Management, emphasized that EAFM is a crucial approach that complements existing fisheries management practices in Indonesia. He explained that EAFM enables stakeholders to balance ecological, social, and economic goals in an integrated manner within sustainable ecological limits.

Syahril Abd Raup, Director of Fish Resources Management, officially opened the meeting and provided directions in its opening at the PKSPL IPB, Bogor, on May 27, 2025.

He underscored that EAFM serves as a vital enhancement to current fishery and environmental management systems. Therefore, he encouraged collaboration among Fishery Management Institutions (LPPs) of Fisheries Management Areas (WPPs), universities, researchers, NGOs, and other stakeholders, to act as scientific and consultative panels in support of the Blue Economy programs which aligned with EAFM. “This collaboration is essential, and we will push for WPP LPPs to be active, involving universities as EAFM Learning Centers and also the National Scientific Commission on Stock Assessment (Komnas Kajiskan),” said Raup.

During the event, Learning Centers (LCs) presented updates on EAFM implementation in their respective regions. The meeting also discussed the development of Indonesian National Work Competency Standards (SKKNI) in the EAFM sector, updates to the roadmap, and harmonization of evaluation and weighting methods (flag modelling).

Currently, CFI Indonesia is accelerating the development process of SKKNI for EAFM to realize its program on Competency Test for EAFM SK3 graduates. Over the past three years, CFI Indonesia has facilitated trainings for 85 individuals across the planner, implementer, and evaluator levels of EAFM SK3.

Anton Wijonarno, a representative of the WWF GEF Agency, stated that the meeting served as a reminder of the importance of ecosystem-based fisheries management principles, as outlined in Directorate General Regulation No. 18 of 2014 on EAFM. This concept balances social and economic objectives in fisheries—such as fisher welfare and equitable use of fish resource—while considering knowledge, information, and uncertainties related to biotic and abiotic components as well as human interactions within aquatic ecosystems, through integrated, comprehensive, and sustainable fisheries management.

“The GEF6-CFI project is the implementation of EAFM in Eastern Indonesia, and the roadmap agreed upon in this meeting constitutes a follow-up action plan for the project,” Anton said.

Some of the proposed near-term action plans include refining EAFM indicators and calculations (including the integration with MPA/OECM) as well as compiling and sharing EAFM lessons learned to support PIT and Komnas Kajiskan. In addition, training on EAFM indicators and fisheries modeling will be conducted for LC EAFM LCs as scientific committees within WPP LPPs, as well as well as efforts to elevate SK3 to the level of SKKNI EAFM.

This meeting is expected to be a milestone in strengthening cross-sector coordination to support PIT policies and accelerate the implementation of sustainable fisheries management across all Fisheries Management Areas of the Republic of Indonesia (WPPNRI).