SUCOFINDO assists Government overcoming IUU Fishing

One of the crucial problem facing Indonesia is Illegal, Unreported dan Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.

One of the crucial problem facing Indonesiais Illegal, Unreported dan Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.

 

Based on FAO 2009 data, Indonesia has been the world’s most severe victim of IUU practices with total loss of 1.6 million tons worth Rp. 30 trillion per year or approximately 25 percent of the total Indonesiafishing potential

Therefore, IUU fishing practices, in particular illegal fishing has been the most serious problem that shall be anticipated as soon as possible since it jeopardizes sustainability of marine and fishery resources that leads to the country’s crisis of economy

Starting January 1^st 2010, European Committee has put into effect a new regulation ie Council Regulation (EC) No. 1005/2008 dated September 2008 on the Establishment Community System To Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported And Unegulated Fishing.

 

This regulation will prevent acceptance of fishery product resulted from Illegal, Unreported And Unregulated Fishing practices.  In other words, only legal products can entry EU countries

This new regulation from EU Committee stands as implementation form of tracibility system principle for food product, particularly fishery product resulted from catching process.

 

This principle of traceability is implemented through the so-called Catch Certification scheme which is used as ascertaining fact that the products are resulted through legal ways of catching.

 

This sort of fishing products shall be evidenced with detailed records that specify information ranging from catching location up to processing unit

This regulation is applied to all fishing products directly or indirectly entering EU resulted from catching activities, including those of Indonesian-flag vessels.

 

This regulation directly gives impact to EU-destined exporting countries like Indonesia.

Up to the date, issuance of the Cathing Certificate by FisheryPortauthority is yet to utilize sufficient information and database management system.  In addition, administrative format for certification is completed incorrectly against relevant stipulation.  This condition bears risk of certificate counterfeiting and certificate misusing including illegal transshipment.

 

This, in turns, has potential to end up with rejection of Catching Certificate from Indonesia, EU needs for verification of catching certificate validity, and threat of preference revocation that will reduce competitiveness, damage crediblity and threaten domestic fishing industry.

No otomation has been established for the issuance of catching certification issuance, certification database management and electronic filing system at FisheryPort that is integrated with the system available at the Directorate General of Catching Fisheries Ministry of Marine and Fishery.

 

In this regards, PT.SUCOFINDO has been awarded a project worth Rp. 13 Billion from the ministry to fulfill the above needs through a transparent and objective tender mechanism.

SUCOFINDO is in position to establish Automated Issuance System of Catching Certificate that will assure speed and accuracy of data in conformance with requirement stated in EC NO. 1005/2008.  This upgraded system will prevent counterfeit and misuse of Indonesian catching certificate