Aruna Learns to USA through IVLP 2023 Sustainable Fisheries Management

Throughout June 2023, Utari Octavianty, Aruna’s Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer, participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) managed by the International Visitors Office at the Bureau of Education and Culture of the United States Department of State (US). Utari is one of 6 people from various regions in Indonesia and across professions who were selected to join this program. The other 5 people consisted of representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), fisheries scholar associations, private sector and factories.

This learning program raised the theme of Sustainable Fisheries Management, which is the pentahelix for the implementation of sustainable fisheries in America. Indonesia has also expressed interest in the program to strengthen networking and collaboration in sustainable fisheries management with academics, researchers, and non-governmental organizations in the U.S. 

U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, Sung Y. Kim, stated that America is one of the world’s destination countries for fishery product exports. Supported by International Trade Center data in 2020, the import value of United States fishery products this year was the highest overall, reaching around 15.34% of the total import value of world fishery products. 

“The potential of fish resources in 11 management areas in Indonesia is more than 12 million. Of course, this is not a small number. Meanwhile, export commodities of Indonesian fishery products include crab, tuna, shrimp, lobster, grouper, and others. It’s a resource worth optimizing for by people who really understand the sector well. It’s no wonder that IVLP is a great opportunity to learn.” 

Aruna positively welcomed his participation in this program and moreover America is one of the largest markets for exports of local fishermen’s catch products from Indonesia. “It is a meaningful opportunity for Aruna and I personally to be able to learn about Sustainable Fisheries Management implemented through this IVLP learning program. There are so many things I learned—which I didn’t know at all, now they can be the benchmark that underlies every strategic decision of Aruna in the future, especially since America is one of our export countries. I also hope that fisheries in Indonesia will also be able to apply the concept and implementation of sustainable fisheries more thoroughly,” said Utari.

This Fisher Helped the Advent of Aruna at Ujung Genteng: “We Are Getting More and More Attention!”

“Who wants to be a fisher? Raise your hand up!” We asked that question to the children of Aruna Fishers when visiting the Aruna Hub in Ujung Genteng, West Java, back in early June 2023. Unfortunately, not a single finger swinging up, pointing at the vast sky. During that cloudy daytime, there was only an innocent look with a shy smile. “I want to be in the army,” said a boy wearing his father’s Aruna hat–Kang Karya, a blue swimming crab fisher in Aruna.

Things were still gray back then. However, utilizing Aruna’s connections, Aruna had the chance to meet Kang Karya, one of those first folks who helped the advent of Aruna in Ujung Genteng. “I am also involved in the fishing community in this area, especially blue swimming crab fishers. When I first heard of Aruna, I thought there wouldn’t be anything wrong if I invited them to join. It’s free too, after all,” he said when asked how he encouraged his friends to join Aruna.

Kang Karya personally saw the promising prospects in the fishing industry. It wasn’t merely about work being passed down by his parents, but being a fisher, for Kang Karya, meant harnessing the strong marine potentials of the archipelago. “Ideally, the younger generation must also have the willingness to become a fisher. We can certainly guess that things will be much simpler than they are today. Marine technology will definitely develop even more rapidly, making fishers even more secure. Moreover, the demand for blue swimming crabs is now also high in demand, especially in foreign markets,” he said.

He continued, “Not to mention if there is a company focusing on wild-catch fisheries like Aruna.” For him, Aruna managed to provide tons of benefits for the lives of the fishers in Ujung Genteng. Not only by conducting educational programs about sustainable fisheries and financial literacy, Aruna also helped Aruna Fishers across Indonesia, including those in Ujung Genteng, to independently own boats and environmentally friendly fishing gear. Aruna also helped Aruna Fishers obtain BPJS (healthcare) cards, as well as to manage income savings.

Kang Karya believed that with a fisheries company that genuinely cared for the lives of fishers and coastal communities like Aruna, the younger generations would be more encouraged to focus on optimizing Indonesia’s natural wealth. “I encourage my own children, as well as coastal children in general, to help make use of the potential of our country’s seas. Never think that being a fisherman is another sort of hardship. Inshaallah, everything will work on its own track and everything will get much easier. We are getting more attention, really,” Kang Karya closed and concluded the discussion.

Encouraging Crab Consumption through Food Creations, MURI Granted Aruna This World Record

Jakarta, Indonesia – Aruna, an integrated fisheries commerce and supply chain aggregator in Indonesia, now came to break Museum Rekor-Dunia Indonesia (MURI) for the second time. On 08 June 2023, Aruna was declared successful to be listed in the category of “Local Creations of Blue Swimming Crab: Serving Dishes with the most Menu Variants.” This record was handed by Andre Purwandono, Senior Customer Relations Manager of MURI, to Indraka Fadhlillah, the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Aruna. 

Making it come true, Aruna collaborated with several partners consisting of professional hotel chefs, students from the culinary schools, and groups of MSME women. The ideas and enthusiasm expressed by the partners convinced Aruna to have the second record after its first breaking during the last time of Ramadan. Aruna selected local creative menus due to the unique and distinctive taste of the Indonesian spices. 

Blue swimming crab was particularly taken into this record-breaking because of its great demand potential and Aruna understood that it was really a high wave to ride on. This commodity is also the second most excellent export product of Indonesia. We’re proud that it’s even fancied abroad. On account of that fact, Aruna also markets blue swimming crab under the trademark of “BOON”. Aruna undoubtedly encourages people to drive up their blue swimming crab consumption by making it available for Indonesia’s market. 

Andre Purwandono, Senior Customer Relations Manager of MURI, said, “Our team has verified and we declare that Aruna doesn’t deserve to win the Indonesian level award, but it’s the global level for ‘Local Creations of Blue Swimming Crab: Serving Dishes with the most Menu Variants’ that they do deserve. Hopefully, Aruna will always be the initiator of some other creative ideas to advance the lives of the coastal communities.”

As a wrap-up, the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Aruna said, “This record does not come from our own strength. Therefore, I appreciate all partners who made this record a true success, such as chefs, students, and MSME women involved. The highest appreciation also goes to Aruna Fishers, especially blue swimming crab fishers, who have introduced this excellent product to the world.”

Halal Bihalal: Aruna’s Commitment to Empower and Closely Interact with Indonesian Fishers

After the celebration of Eid al-Fitr 1444 H, Aruna held a gathering and a grand halal bihalal by inviting all Aruna Fishers in Paciran, East Java, on Friday, 19 May 2023. Brought about the theme of “Getting Closer to Create Togetherness” was attended by a number of stakeholders, namely the Head of the Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP) of East Java Province that was represented by Mrs. Ardiani Mariasari as the Fisher Analyst, Head of Paciran Village that was represented by Mr. Wafudin Zaki, S.Sos as the Village Secretary, and Mr. Toha Muslich, one of the fisheries officers in Lamongan Regency.

The halal bihalal agenda attended by hundreds of fishers in Paciran also became a platform where the representative from DKP East Java Province announced a number of programs crafted by the government for the fishers. Aruna also provided some information about the benefits fishers could get by joining Aruna. Not only would Aruna Fishers get educational programs about sustainable fisheries, financial literacy, and technology, but they would also be informed and get direct access to government programs for Indonesian fishers, such as KUSUKA and Pas Kecil.

These activities aimed to maintain the good relationship that Aruna and Aruna Fishers have. The increase in income that has been experienced by many Aruna Fishers in various regions in Indonesia becomes a very strong foundation for Aruna to invite more fishers to join its ecosystem.  On the same agenda, Aruna handed over donations for the children of the Karangasem Paciran Islamic Boarding School Foundation Orphanage, Lamongan. The donation was representatively received by the Chairman of the Foundation, Drs H. Ahmad Amin, M.Pd. 

Utari Octavianty, Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna, stated, “Our focus now is on how we can make an even bigger impact, but without forgetting what we’ve already started. It’s not an easy responsibility, but with a routine agenda like this, we believe that we can definitely get closer to our own fishers. Hopefully, we will help more Indonesian fishers by improving their welfare and knowledge.”

Closing the agenda, Mrs. Ardiani Mariasari, the Fisher Analyst representing the Head of DKP East Java Province, added, “It’s great that seven years ago, three young people shared the same dream and a step at a time, the dreams are all coming true. There is still a long way to go, indeed, but their consistency surely deserves some appreciation. With the presence of Aruna, not only fishers were helped, but related agencies and stakeholders also felt so. Aruna also becomes our platform in disseminating programs that the government has designed for the fishers in Indonesia. Hopefully, their initiatives can bring more blessings to us.”

Kepulauan Bangka Belitung Government Discusses Opportunity Cooperation with Aruna

The Regional Representative Board along with the Cooperatives and SMEs Department of Kepulauan Bangka Belitung paid a visit to Aruna on 15 May 2023. The visit to Aruna’s headquarters in South Jakarta was aimed to discuss the enormous potential of the fisheries in Bangka Belitung. Hopefully, the visit could also generate great opportunities for business collaborations between the two parties.

The Government of Kepulauan Bangka Belitung said that the abundant potential commodities of the region, such as squid and crabs, were still hindered by several obstacles, namely the limited skills of the fishers, the fishers’ narrow range of fishing locations, and the underdeveloped technology. The Cooperatives and SMEs Department expected that Aruna could synergize with the Kepulauan Bangka Belitung government to advance local maritime potential.

From this visit, collaboration plans in terms of the production process of fishery commodities in the region were also taken into account, so it could complement the technical experience and oversee the overall production process. Up until now, Aruna has strived to embrace more Indonesian fishers to become part of Aruna Fishers. 

“Hopefully, from this meeting, a collaboration can be established between the Cooperatives & SMEs Department of Kepulauan Bangka Belitung Province and it can be truly actualized. We believe that the collaboration can optimize the potential of the local fisheries and have an impact on the lives of coastal communities in the region,” said Ranto Shendu, Vice Chairman of Commission II of Kepulauan Bangka Belitung government.

Bonding with Aruna Fishers: Together Breaking the Fast in Sarasehan Program

On Friday, April 7, 2023, Aruna held Sarasehan, an Aruna Fisher Gathering, entitled “Lebih Dekat di Bulan Penuh Berkah” (Getting Closer during the Blessed Month). This event was held in Pemalang, Central Java and several other cities in Indonesia, such as Sedayu, Yogyakarta; Papaan, South Kalimantan; Pelabuhan Ratu, West Java; Bau Bau, Southeast Sulawesi; and Paciran, East Java. Sarasehan is an engagement program to create a sense of closeness and deliver educational information for the Aruna Fisher Communities.

Other than celebrating Ramadan together, the Sarasehan was also held in commemoration of National Fishers’ Day. Sarasehan is a forum where Aruna can embrace Aruna Fishers and coastal communities who have spearheaded the development of the marine and fisheries industry in Indonesia. Sarasehan is also a means to build the trust of Aruna Fishers, especially in establishing regular and sustainable cooperation. 

This event was followed by the qosidah and tausiyah agenda, which was then continued by breaking the fast together. To sum up, there were more than 200 Aruna Fishers and Aruna Pickers who attended the event. Although spread across 6 cities, Sarasehan is simultaneously aimed at helping Aruna in achieving its main vision and mission, which is to make Indonesia the world’s maritime axis by 2045, by making the sea a better livelihood for all.

Utari Octavianty, Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna, said, “Committed to being sustainably healthy, Sarasehan is one of the many things Aruna does to maintain our relationship with Aruna Fishers. Sarasehan is not only about educational programs to improve self-capacity, but Sarasehan is also about entertainment, a bonding that Aruna does directly with coastal communities. Hopefully, Aruna can continue to be genuinely humanist like this, so that more fishers in Indonesia will prosper.”

Aruna Continues to Expand, Now Exports 15 Tons of Crab Meat to Mainland China

Domestic products from Indonesia, namely crab meat with the brand “BOON”, are ready to enliven the Mainland China market. A total of 15 tons of BOON crab caught by Aruna Fisheries will be sent to meet the needs of Mainland China consumers on (6/4). This export is a follow-up to Aruna’s multi-stakeholder visit some time ago in order to accelerate Aruna Fishermen’s fishery products to a wider market while showing the strengthening of the competitiveness of Indonesian products that are able to penetrate the global market.

BOON was originally Aruna’s flagship product to meet the protein needs of the domestic market, but now BOON is also glimpsed by the Mainland China market.

“We feel happy if our fishery products are increasingly asked by the global market, for example this BOON. Hopefully, there will be more crabs caught in a measured and sustainable manner by Aruna Fishers,” said Utari Octavianty, CoFounder & Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna.

BOON is produced by prioritizing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards so that product quality is maintained properly when consumed. In addition, the BOON processing process also involves Aruna Fisheries and coastal women who have been educated by Aruna about sustainable fisheries management procedures. It can be said, BOON is a local product that provides domestic added value that is also in demand by the global market.

Utari added, “Aruna always involves all coastal communities where we are. From upstream to downstream, the production process of Aruna’s fishery products is guaranteed to be sustainable. Starting from being caught by fishermen with environmentally friendly fishing gear and being processed by the hands of coastal women which of course becomes a job field for them. As per our mission, we want to make the sea a worthy source of life for many people.”

For information, BOON has its own unique products such as the texture of premium crab crab meat that is soft, ready to eat and easy to process into various cooking creations. BOON has also gone through the pasteurization process with the best export quality. In addition, crab meat is also rich in high nutritional and protein and low in fat and cholesterol. 

Fulfill Compliance at Sea, Aruna Equips Fostered Fisheries with KUSUKA

Still in the series of Aruna’s 7th anniversary with the theme “Sustainably Healthy”, Aruna supports the efforts of the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) in terms of giving the Marine and Fisheries Business Actor Card (KUSUKA) as the sole identity of business actors in the fisheries sector, especially for fishermen. As many as 61 Aruna Fisheries in the Jenebora area, East Kalimantan who meet the completeness requirements have received a KUSUKA card which is handed over directly by BRI Tanah Grogot (Friday, 3/24). KUSUKA is one of the KKP programs in collaboration with BRI bank, so that KUSUKA is in the form of an ATM card that can also be used by Aruna Fisheries to carry out financial transactions and of course this card is free of administrative fees per month. Aruna will gradually register all Aruna Fisheries to get KUSUKA access so that their identities are recorded & validated in KKP.

Aruna will continue to help the government to accelerate programs that are oriented to the sustainability of Indonesia’s fisheries and marine ecosystems, one of which is KUSUKA. Aruna assessed that KUSUKA is one of the compliances that Aruna Fisheries must have so that they can go to sea safely and their welfare is also guaranteed. In addition, it is also a real form of Aruna’s commitment in realizing the sustainability of Indonesia’s marine and fisheries ecosystems. 

“We respond positively to this KUSUKA program, this KUSUKA is like a sea ID card for Indonesian fishermen. We are grateful, KKP welcomes Aruna’s initiative to be able to publish KUSUKA for Aruna Fisheries. With this KUSUKA, our fishermen are recorded and officially registered by the government through KKP in particular. Later, we will carry out the process of checking equipment at all Aruna points in Indonesia so that 40,000 Aruna Fisheries can get access to this card. In addition, with the collaboration from the BRI bank, we hope that it will make it easier for our fisheries, especially in financial access. We also remind our fisheries to use this KUSUKA as best as possible because it is difficult to get it, there are many conditions that must be met,” said Utari Octavianty, CoFounder & Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna.

For information, KUSUKA applies in all regions of Indonesia and can be extended every 5 (five) years. This KUSUKA is intended for the main actors in the marine and fisheries sectors such as: Fishermen, Fish Cultivators, Salt Farmers, Fish Marketers, Fish Processors, and Fish Delivery Service Entrepreneurs. KUSUKA in the future will also be integrated with various assistance and empowerment programs from KKP. KUSUKA is one of a series of KKP programs in realizing a one data system through single identity for marine and fishery business actors so that data can be accessed online.

Bringing Home An Award from JP Morgan, Utari Met Aruna’s International Buyers & The Indonesian Consulate in Hong Kong

On 22 March 2023 at Rosewood Hong Kong, Utari Octavianty, Aruna’s Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer, got a prestigious award from JP Morgan, an American multinational financial services and investment bank company headquartered in New York City, for the category of “Top 100 Asia-Pacific Women-Powered, High-Growth Businesses”. JP Morgan has long focused on empowering women and they are committed to encouraging women’s ambitions and advancing financial equity by providing greater access to capital and business networks.

At the event, JP Morgan also invited nearly 1,000 community investors and business owners from all around the world. At the ceremony, Utari also held an exclusive business discussion with Matthew Chan, JP Morgan’s Head of Sustainability and ESG Engagement. Utari was considered to successfully bring a breakthrough in the fisheries industry. Kam Shing Kwang, Chief Executive Officer for Asia Private Bank JP Morgan, said, “Utari, teamed up with two of her college mates, thriving to solve problems in the fisheries supply chain. They’ve now succeeded in empowering more than 40,000 fishers in 31 provinces in Indonesia. It’s an outstanding achievement!”

Utari also conducted buyer visits to a number of Aruna existing and potential consumers in Hong Kong. Fully supported by the Indonesian Consulate General for Trade in Hong Kong, Aruna’s initiation to contribute to encouraging exports of fishery commodities is very welcomed. Hopefully, the meetings with these multi-stakeholders can accelerate the distribution of Aruna products in the near future so that they can soon enliven the Hong Kong market. 

Utari stated, “It is truly an honor to receive this appreciation. Thank you, JP Morgan, for bringing up this ‘Top 100 Asia-Pacific Women-Powered, High-Growth Businesses’. This award is really a remembrance for me to always stay genuine in whatever I do every single day, hand in hand with Nakama Aruna. It is also a great opportunity to meet Aruna’s existing and potential buyers in Hong Kong, and be able to share the behavior of the markets here. What an insight!”

Celebrating the Month of Mutu Karantina (Quality Quarantine), Aruna Reminded Indonesians to Consume Fish

Aruna participated in the Fish Quality Quarantine Month program organized by the Fish Quarantine Agency, Quality Control and Fishery Product Safety in Semarang, (18-19 March). It’s an agency that assesses and guarantees the health and quality of fish. During the agenda, a unit under the agency, namely the Fish Processing and Business Unit was awarded by the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries for keeping the ideal standards and helping the ministry do some socialization about it. The agenda was then followed by a handover of quality and healthy fish to the representatives of Islamic Boarding Schools in the region and the communities around the area.

As is known, the program is part of the focus of the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to ensure that the quality of fishery products are in accordance with the standard set by the ministry. This program is also in line with the government’s attempt to encourage people’s interest in fish consumption. Having a similar campaign on fish consumption, Aruna was invited to participate to exhibit pelagic fish and crustacean commodities which are Aruna’s main commodities. By attending the event, Aruna showed that it fully supported the government’s efforts to encourage the improvement of the quality of Indonesian marine fishery products. Aruna also focuses on gradually educating 40,000 Aruna Fishers to maintain the quality of their catch.

“Right now, we constantly remind our fishers to catch not more than what they need and pay more attention to the quality of the fish they catch. Why chase a large number of catches from a poor quality, when we can catch enough with the best quality possible? We’ve found a matter like this challenging, so we need to continuously remind Aruna Fishers to maintain the quality of fresh fish. From the very beginning of the process, up until the products are received by the consumers. From sea to table, the products need to be at their best quality,” said Utari Octavianty, the Co-Founder & Chief Sustainability Officer of Aruna.

Aruna responded to the program positively and also invited more Indonesians to consume fish. Fishery products are another source of animal protein that is also healthy and of course affordable, such as tuna, cob, skipjack, mackerel, and many others. Researches have also shown that fish has a good nutritions for the development of brain cells, especially for brain intelligence. Find our products at our website and e-commerce and let’s eat more fish!