Indonesian fisheries managers and scientists face the enormous task of assessing the nation's fisheries resources, delineating manageable units and applying an effective policy framework, which includes dealing with the current high level of scale illegal, unregulated, unreported (IUU) fishing activities. Industrial IUU fishing (for example duplicate fishing licences, unlicensed fishing vessels, illegal fishing gear and trans-shipment of catch) results in estimated lost government revenues of more than US$1 billion. It also leads to serious underestimation of catches and consequent depletion of major fish stocks. Artisanal and subsistence-scale IUU fishing also leads to local depletions in fish stocks, damage to habitats and impacts on local communities. In order to develop effective assessment and policy frameworks to better manage Indonesian fisheries, particularly IUU fishing activities, this research project will undertake a pilot program within a specific region of Indonesia, with the general aims of better understanding the characteristics of the various fisheries, including the IUU components, and of investigating new innovative assessment and management approaches.
Links:
[1] http://www.aciar.gov.au/country/Indonesia
[2] http://www.aciar.gov.au/programarea/Fisheries