Indonesia and FAO sign deal on aquaculture cooperation

Under the agreement, specific arrangements will be made to increase cooperation in a number of areas including sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development, marine conservation and the prevention, deterrence and elimination of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The agreement also covers capacity building, education and training, research and the exchange of experts – including  through South-South cooperation – as well as food safety. Indonesia is a prominent actor in  South-South cooperation and a member of the G20.

In 2011, Indonesia’s fishery production totalled some 8.4 million tonnes, of which inland and marine catch accounted for about 5.7 million tonnes and aquaculture 2.7 million tonnes. About 95 percent of the country’s fishery production comes from artisanal fishermen.

In 2011, over 6 million people were engaged in inland and marine fishing and fish farming. The marine fishing fleet comprised 581 845 vessels.

About 54 percent of Indonesia’s animal protein supply comes from fish and seafood. Per capita annual consumption has almost tripled from an average of 10.2 kg in the 1970s to 27.3 kg in 2010.

In 2012, the total value of Indonesia’s fisheries exports was $3.6 billion. The fishing industry accounted for 21 percent of Indonesia’s agricultural economy and 3 percent of national GDP.

Indonesia is one of  38 countries who have already met the Millennium Development Goal of halving their percentage of hunger by 2015.  Of those, 18 countries have also achieved the 1996 World Food Summit goal of halving their number of hungry, and all 38 countries will be honoured at  a special ceremony in Rome on June 16, during the FAO governing Conference.