Aruna

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Indonesia collaborated on a Foreign Grant cooperation known as the Grant Implementation Agreement on Marine and Fisheries Portfolio (GIA-MFP) for the years 2022-2027. One of the initiatives under GIA-MFP was the USAID Bersama Kelola Perikanan (USAID Ber-IKAN) program, which was implemented in 8 provinces, including Riau Islands Province, West Kalimantan, West Papua, Maluku, North Maluku, North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, and Central Sulawesi. Aruna, as a close partner of USAID, was invited to attend a joint monitoring meeting in Riau Islands Province from May 13 to 17, 2024. Due to Aruna's focus and expertise on coastal communities throughout the country, it was believed that Aruna could contribute significantly to communicating and helping achieve many goals and objectives of the program. Aruna could help convey the importance of adhering to evidence-based fisheries policies, strengthening small-scale fisheries governance, increasing market incentives for sustainable seafood products, and increasing protection of rare, threatened, extinct, and protected marine species to the assisted fishers. Through this program, it was expected that at least 5 million hectares of fisheries zones would be biologically foremost, better managed, and climate-resilient. Additionally, it was anticipated that about 5000 people would gain increased economic benefits due to improved management of superior fisheries. The program also aimed to sustainably manage at least 5 leading fishery commodities through the implementation of a harvest strategy. Participants, including Aruna, were invited to observe USAID Ber-IKAN activities and take part in interactive discussions targeting beneficiaries located in Riau Islands Province. #SeaForAll

#SeaForAll

As a leading tuna-producing country in the world, Indonesia plays a crucial role in maintaining tuna populations. According to data from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), in 2023, tuna production in Indonesia reached 15 million tons with an export value of USD 927,2 million. Indonesia's tuna contribution has reached 19,1% of the total global tuna supply. The commodity is exported to various countries, including the United States, Italy, Japan, Vietnam, Australia, and Singapore. Various types of tuna in Indonesian waters demonstrate the country's significant potential in the tuna industry. Here are several examples: 1. Bigeye Tuna, known for its large eyes and strong body 2. Yellowfin Tuna, one of the nimblest tuna 3. Albacore, loved for its tender texture 4. Skipjack Tuna, commonly found throughout Indonesian waters 5. Southern Bluefin Tuna, the largest tuna in the world The crucial role of the government is needed through collaboration and implementation of appropriate policies. Working with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to ensure the sustainability of tuna and reduce the impact of its capture on marine ecosystems can be an example. Indonesia has also been actively involved in international fisheries agreements, such as the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC). In line with Indonesia's commitment, Aruna implements responsible tuna fishing practices to support the sustainability of tuna populations. As consumers, we can surely participate by: a. Buying tuna products from sustainable sources b. Reducing consumption of endangered tuna c. Supporting tuna conservation programs Utari Octavianty, the Co-Founder and Chief of Sustainability of Aruna, stated, "Let's ensure the sustainability of our marine life, and don't forget to eat fish!" #SeaForAll

After completing the Stakeholder Meeting for the Blue Swimming Crab (BSC) Fisheries Improvement Program back in September 2023, Aruna maintained its commitment. To actualize serious marine sustainability, from 14 to 16 May 2024, in Jenebora and Tanjung Jumlai, East Kalimantan, Aruna held training for Aruna Fishers and the Supervisory Community Group (Pokmaswas) as a follow-up to the Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) having been held previously. The training was a collaborative output worked by Aruna Indonesia and WWF Indonesia given Aruna’s membership in the Seafood Savers Program. Data recorded that the export value of crabs reached USD 448 million in 2023. Ironically, in the past five years, several factors caused the decline in crab populations to become more prevalent. Some of those factors include climate change, lack of supervision, and unsustainable fishing practices. Following up on this, Aruna conducted some sorts of training encompassing several vital aspects, such as understanding sustainable marine ecosystems and habitats, threats to ecosystems, regulations in the fishing industry, the use of GPS for more efficient and sustainable fishing, supporting Pokmaswas in monitoring marine and fisheries resources in the local area, as well as the pragmatic preparation of work plans, and simple reporting to monitor fishing activities. Sukron Alfi R, the Capture Fisheries Specialist from WWF Indonesia Foundation said, "Collaborating with stakeholders is essential. This training marks the start of our collaboration in FIP, particularly for crab commodities in East Kalimantan. Therefore, it’s of paramount importance to ensure that the invited participants understand what we’re saying. We also hold a post-test to assess their competence. This is a comprehensive intervention, an effort to stop the decline of the blue swimming crab population." The involvement of various stakeholders was to bring various perspectives from each sector so that FIP activities can be under existing environmental, socio-economic, and legal conditions. Utari Octavianty, the Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna, stated, "We must ensure that they understand the main challenges that hit the crab fisheries sector in East Kalimantan. One of the solutions to existing challenges can be achieved through MSC certification. For this reason, we also introduce the concept and criteria of MSC certification, and outline the benefits that fishers and the related companies can gain through this certification. Speaking of MSCs, we are also discussing our compliance with sustainability regulations, as well as our ability to ensure proper record-keeping for fishing surveillance activities. One step at a time." #SeaForAll

Aruna's SEA for All Commitment 2030 represents a significant sustainable fisheries initiative aimed at promoting responsible and sustainable fishing practices. The initiative aims to generate a positive impact on the world's oceans by ensuring the conservation of fish stocks and the protection of marine ecosystems. By supporting this initiative, Aruna is contributing to the achievement of a more sustainable future for our planet, and promoting responsible and ethical business practices. Aruna's SEA for All Commitment 2030 is a luminous example of how businesses can play a crucial role in safeguarding our planet's natural resources for future generations. #SeaForAll

#SeaForAll

As written in the National Education Day Commemoration Guidelines, the Ministry of Education and Culture suggested all agencies to create fun activities to celebrate National Education Day 2024. This all was to encourage public participation and raise enthusiasm for learning. Aruna and the Maritime Foundation celebrated the big day by giving school equipments and regularly donating books on general knowledge, religion, and fiction, at Aruna's operational points. The locations where Aruna donated the school equipment and books were spread all around the country, from Aceh, Lampung, Central Java, East Java, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, North Maluku, to Papua. This donation aimed to support some of the learning needs of more than 500 coastal children who came from economically disadvantaged families. Since the ceremonial procession of this agenda was held in Muara Gading Mas Village, Labuhan Maringgai, Lampung, Aruna got the honor to have the attendance of the Village Head, representatives of BPJS TK, and representatives of the local Navy. Wahyono, the Head of Muara Gading Village, said, "The celebration reminds me of the three mottos in our educational system, one of which is, 'Tut Wuri Handayani', meaning: 'A teacher should be able to provide support and direction.' Well, this third point is manifested through an initiation like this. It doesn't have to be a big step to give a real positive impact." Fisher and coastal community regenerations were a paramount necessity as well as a strategic step to answer future challenges. In Papua, for example, there were only 36.1% of grade 3 elementary school students having adequate literacy skills. This made Aruna even more convinced that real support for the literacy of coastal children was something crucial to give. They were perceived to be the major successors that would keep their parents' work as fishers on going. They were believed to bring further blockbust to the industry. Utari Octavianty, the Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) of Aruna, affirmed, "Who will take care of our oceans in the future if not coastal children? With simple, concrete steps, let's prepare them to become the ultimate successors who will also manage our oceans in a much better way." #SeaForAll

#SeaForAll

#SeaForAll

A statement from the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Wahyu Sakti Trenggono at the Indonesia Marine and Fisheries Business Forum 2024 mentioned that the global seafood market was projected to grow up to 8.92%. Aruna perceived the calculation as an attractive opportunity to further expand Aruna's seafood market share by delivering richer commodity variants for global demands. Strengthened by the number of the members onboard reaching more than 55,000 fishers, as well as its supply points covering 150 hubs all across Indonesia, Aruna was optimistic that it could broaden up its business coverage not only in global markets, but also domestic ones. Having Aruna's high-rank seafood commodities, such as tuna, crab, lobster, and other commodities, Aruna was well-assured to explore further to Europe, Japan, and the Middle East. Farid Naufal Aslam, the Co-Founder amd CEO of Aruna, said, "We see that data from the Global Seafood Market delivered by the Minister of MMAF is an attractive potential for Indonesia to be able to advance the fisheries sector. We will also contribute to making this happen." He continued, "Aruna is optimistic to create opportunities and markets for local seafood in the global market, this is evidenced by our supply strength that reaches 90% of provinces in Indonesia. Hopefully, Indonesian seafood can be increasingly known to the world and also local seafood export opportunities will also drive up." Digitalization and data management are 2 basic things that are the key to success for the Indonesian fisheries industry in particular. This is in line with the SEA for All Commitment 2030 that Aruna launched some time ago, one of which is in the implementation of traceability of fishery products. Traceability technology developed by Aruna, one of which serves to monitor the location of product capture areas. Meanwhile, in the internal business, Aruna also has a season calendar that serves to see the trend of the harvest season for a fishery product commodity. #SeaForAll