Indonesia: The World’s Ocean Hero?

It seems every month a new story shines light on the perilous state of the world’s oceans. There’s pollution – 19 billion pounds of plastic enters the ocean every year, and microplastics are now being found in bottled water, fish, and even table salt. Climate change is killing coral reefs, and there is evidence that bleaching events – which are becoming more frequent – could harm fish diversity and ecosystems. And then there’s the impact of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which is decimating species and pushing some marine ecosystems to the brink of collapse.

“Our oceans are in trouble and a number of challenges need to be addressed if they are to be returned to good health,” said Michele Kuruc, vice president of ocean policy at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Unsurprisingly, the business-as-usual scenario is dire: a future ocean with more plastic in it than marine life, with few healthy corals, and devoid of iconic species such as bluefin tuna, sharks, or manta rays. For countries that depend on their oceans, there is an even more worrying risk – that of massive economic loss. The ocean economy was estimated in 2015 to be worth $24 trillion, and two-thirds of that was at risk of decline if protection was not made a higher priority.

The challenge? No nation has stood up to push for a stronger ocean policy framework, leading to a crisis of the commons. However, that may be changing. Led by get-it-done, straightforward Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, known to many as Ibu Susi, Indonesia has started to tackle this problem head-on, most visibly through the destruction of illegal foreign fishing vessels, which has had a huge impact in reducing IUU fishing in Indonesia. Even more promising are signs that the country may be prepping to take this work global.

“The impact is really big nationwide,” said Aki Baihaki, Indonesia program manager at Global Fishing Watch (GFW). “We basically have the perception that Indonesian waters are safer from not having intrusion from foreign vessels...[and now] as the ministry feels that the Indonesian waters are safer, they can concentrate on other efforts.”

An Ocean Country

Few countries, if any, are more connected and dependent on their surrounding oceans than Indonesia. The densely populated archipelagic nation is home to some of the world’s most productive – and now, endangered – fisheries, which provide about 15 percent of the country’s GDP and an even larger portion of jobs. It’s hard to be far from the coast in a country of islands, and the fishing economy is a key component of livelihoods, particularly outside the major cities.

“As a maritime country, Indonesia's valuable ocean assets need to be fully protected and effectively managed for the prosperity of the people and the planet,” said Yolanda Kakabadse, WWF’s international president, in a public statement.

Indonesia is highly dependent on its oceans as both an economic and food security issue, as its exclusive economic zone encompasses numerous fish and marine life hotspots. Jakarta was well positioned to lead a global push to protect the oceans, but, until now, lacked political will. That changed in late 2014 when Ibu Susi stepped into office. Progress since has been nothing short of remarkable, and the country is already considered a global model for fisheries management.

“Minister [Susi] has taken very-high profile positions to eliminate illegal foreign fishing through some traditional government measures to stop new licensing of foreign vessels, to ban trans-shipment… and to punish violators by sinking their vessels in the hundreds,” said Kuruc. “That alone brought her and Indonesia to the world’s attention.”

And the data shows that it’s working. According to research published earlier this year by the University of California-Santa Barbara, since Ibu Susi took office, foreign fishing in Indonesia has dropped by more than 90 percent, and total fishing is down 25 percent, even while Indonesian fishermen and women report larger and more profitable catches. Moreover, the report’s authors saw great potential in other countries emulating Indonesia’s model and improve their fisheries health.

Another key factor has been the use of technology and open data. Indonesia was the first country to release Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data to the nonprofit Global Fishing Watch (GFW) platform, and the Ministry of Fisheries has been partnering with Google to better utilize technology to monitor, enforce, and track illegal activities.

“Global Fishing Watch is available to the public, so the fishing vessels know that they are being watched,” said Baihaki. “Everyone can monitor their movements, their behaviors... [our] platform is helping the Ministry to keep implementing the moratorium.”

The progress means that the ministry can expand their focus to other areas of importance, and already steps are being taken. In March Ibu Susi banned plastic bottles at the her ministry and has moved forward on an action plan to reduce plastic pollution. She has also investigated firms linked to slave labor.

Taking the Fight Global

Here’s the problem: as a single country, Indonesia can only do so much. To improve its fisheries, reduce pollution, and eliminate slavery at sea will require cooperation across borders, meaning that Indonesia will need to take on a larger global role. It will be a new path forward for the country, which despite its size tends to be an international lightweight, often choosing to abstain from voting on issues at the United Nations, for example. But it is the inevitable choice, because no matter how effective Ibu Susi is at policing and monitoring Indonesian territorial waters, unless other countries follow, the impact will be limited.

“Indonesia can be an example for others, but it can’t do this alone,” said Kuruc.

Baihaki and GFW hope that other countries decide to emulate Indonesia’s model and share more data. Two countries are key to this. The first is China, the source of many of the illegal vessels that were prowling Indonesian waters, and a key market for the trafficking of endangered species such as the pangolin (which is being decimated for its scales) or sharks (hunted for their fins). The second is Japan, a major importer of seafood.

“The initial goal of GFW is to address illegal fishing in the world and these countries who have [a] big contribution should become the pioneers of transparency, [like] Indonesia,” said Baihaki.

A big opportunity for Indonesia to step up and become a global leader will come this October, when the country hosts the Our Ocean conference, a global gathering of NGOs, policymakers, governments, and other stakeholders. Many expressed hope that some major announcements will be made at the event.

Another opportunity is the slowly growing push for an international treaty covering the high seas, which was announced by the United Nations last year. Current global law on the oceans is based on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which has proved inadequate for addressing current challenges. Indonesia could play a key role in making this new treaty a reality by 2020 and getting key countries on board.

For a country that has more often been a follower, and has had a checkered record when it comes to transparency, what has taken place under Ibu Susi’s leadership has been remarkable. She remains one of the current administration’s most popular cabinet members and many hope her role will be increased if Jokowi wins re-election next year. Indonesia may finally be ready to take a role as a global leader, in an area – ocean policy and fisheries management – that few expected but many are welcoming.

Our oceans need a hero; perhaps an Indonesian hero.