The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) has reaffirmed the importance of national fisheries data sovereignty as the cornerstone of science-based policymaking to support sustainable fisheries management. This commitment was underscored during the Fisheries Data Validation and Standardization Workshop, organized by the Directorate of Fisheries Resources Management (PSDI) on 14–17 July 2026 at Bigland Hotel, Bogor.

Director of Fisheries Resources Management with the participants of the Fisheries Data Validation and Standardization Workshop, supported through the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia grant, Bigland Hotel, Bogor, 14–17 July 2026.

Supported through the Global Environment Facility–6 Coastal Fisheries Initiative (GEF-6 CFI) Indonesia grant, the workshop brought together data managers responsible for electronic logbooks, observer programmes, fisheries statistics, fishing port information systems (PIPP), researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), universities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and development partners. The workshop aimed to harmonize data standards, strengthen information system integration, and establish a national fisheries data governance system that is more accurate, integrated, and scientifically credible.

Director of Fisheries Resources Management Syahril Abd Raup emphasized that effective fisheries management policies can only be built upon valid, accurate, and reliable data. According to him, data are far more than a collection of numbers—they are the foundation for developing policy recommendations that ensure the sustainability of Indonesia's fishery resources.

“Data are not merely numbers. They must serve as the basis for policy recommendations. Our task is not only to collect data, but also to transform them into scientific recommendations that support the sustainable management of fishery resources," said Syahril.

Director of Fisheries Resources Management Syahril Abd Raup officially opened the Fisheries Data Validation and Standardization Workshop, facilitated through the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia grant, 14 July 2026.

He stressed that Indonesia must uphold data sovereignty as an integral part of its national sovereignty. Every stage of data collection, processing, validation, and reporting must follow scientific standards to ensure that fisheries data are credible and recognized both nationally and internationally.

“We must maintain sovereignty over our own data. National fisheries data should never be determined by others. Indonesia's fisheries data must represent the highest quality, developed through scientific processes from data collection and validation to analysis," he emphasized.

Syahril explained that integrating multiple data sources—including electronic logbooks, observer data, fishing port information systems (PIPP), fisheries statistics, and other monitoring systems—will significantly improve the accuracy of national fish stock assessments while strengthening evidence-based decision-making.

To support this effort, the PSDI Directorate is developing an integrated fisheries data dashboard that will enable different data sources to cross-validate, complement one another, and be consolidated into a single national information system.

MMAF is also beginning to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to improve the efficiency of fisheries data collection, verification, and analysis.

“AI is no longer something we should avoid—it should become our partner. As fisheries data continue to grow in volume, AI will help accelerate verification, analysis, and the generation of faster and more accurate recommendations," Syahril explained.

Ade Setiajanuar, Head of the Data Working Group of PSDI Directorate, coordinated the Fisheries Data Validation and Standardization Workshop, facilitated through the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia grant, 14 July 2026.

Meanwhile, Ade Setiajanuar, Head of the Data Working Group of the PSDI Directorate, explained that the validation and standardization process represents an essential step toward harmonizing the various fisheries data formats currently used across different information systems. Differences in data formats, fish species nomenclature, and database structures have long posed challenges to data integration and therefore need to be standardized to generate a single, high-quality national fisheries database.

“Through this workshop, we aim to establish a standardized and integrated national fisheries database that can be readily used to support evidence-based policymaking,” said Ade.

According to him, once the standardization process is completed, the Directorate will accelerate the estimation of Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE), Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY), and update national fish stock estimates, all of which serve as key scientific references for fisheries management.

“Our target is for Indonesia to have updated national fish stock estimates by the end of the year that can serve as the scientific basis for fisheries resource management,” he added.

To ensure scientific rigor, transparency, and credibility, the Directorate is working closely with Scientific Service Providers (SSPs) in each Fisheries Management Unit and the National Scientific Commission on Stock Assessment (Komnas Kajiskan) throughout the stock assessment process.

Fisheries Data Validation and Standardization Workshop organized by thethe PSDI Directorate and supported through the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia grant, Bigland Hotel, Bogor, 14–17 July 2026.

Scientific support was also provided by Dr. Fayakun Satria, Member of the Komnas Kajiskan and Head of the Research Center for Conservation of Marine and Inland Water Resources at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). He emphasized that data validation forums such as this provide an essential platform for collaboration among data providers to jointly identify and address issues that have often been managed separately.

“Forums like this are essential because they provide a shared platform for addressing fisheries data challenges that have often been tackled independently. Through collaborative discussions, problems can be identified more quickly and practical solutions developed," said Fayakun.

He noted that the complexity of Indonesia's fisheries requires increasingly comprehensive and high-quality data systems. Reliable stock assessments and sound fisheries policies depend fundamentally on the quality of data collected from the outset.

“The more complete and reliable our fisheries data are, the more accurate the scientific advice provided to policymakers will be. Conversely, greater uncertainty in the data increases the risks associated with fisheries resources management," he explained.

Dr. Fayakun Satria, Head of the Research Center for Conservation of Marine and Inland Water Resources at BRIN, featured as one of the resource persons during the Fisheries Data Validation and Standardization Workshop organized by the PSDI Directorate and facilitated through the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia grant, Bigland Hotel, Bogor, 14–17 July 2026.

According to Fayakun, fisheries data requirements have evolved far beyond production statistics. Today, fisheries data form the foundation for implementing the Blue Economy policy, Quota-Based Fisheries, fisheries product certification, and compliance with the requirements of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). Consequently, Indonesia's national fisheries data system must provide increasingly detailed information, including catch composition, fish size, fishing locations, and operational data from electronic logbooks and observer programmes.

Project Manager of the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia PMU, Adipati Rahmat, welcomed the workshop as a strategic initiative to strengthen national fisheries data and information governance. According to him, the availability of accurate, integrated, and standardized data is fundamental to ecosystem-based fisheries management, fish stock assessments, and the implementation of the Quota-Based Fisheries (PIT) policy.

Adipati added that strengthening fisheries data systems was also highlighted as one of the key recommendations of the 25th Annual Consultative Meeting on Large Marine Ecosystems and Coastal Partners (LME25) held in Paris, France. The international forum emphasized the importance of data integration, strengthening knowledge management, and evidence-based decision-making as essential foundations for effective marine ecosystem governance.

“Strengthening fisheries data governance is a long-term investment. Integrated data not only support national policymaking but also strengthen Indonesia's position in international forums that require robust scientific evidence on the status of our fisheries resources. This initiative is therefore fully aligned with global efforts to strengthen sustainable marine and fisheries governance," said Adipati.

Through continued improvements to the national fisheries data system, MMAF expects future fisheries management recommendations to become increasingly science-based—from determining fishing quotas and protecting critical habitats to regulating minimum catch sizes and developing other adaptive management measures to ensure the sustainability of Indonesia's fisheries resources.

Collaboration among government agencies, research institutions, universities, civil society organizations, and development partners remains fundamental to building a modern, transparent, adaptive, and sustainable fisheries data governance system. With a stronger national data system, Indonesia is not only enhancing its fisheries management but also demonstrating leadership in promoting science-based, collaborative, and sustainable ocean governance at the global level.