Direct Call Mechanism Makes Export Time and Cost of Fishery Products More Efficient

Fishery product exports play an important role in the Indonesian economy. According to data from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), in 2022, the value of fishery product exports from Indonesia was recorded at USD 6.24 billion, an increase of 9.15% from the previous year.

The main export destinations for Indonesian fishery products are dominated by Asian countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, and China. In addition, fishery product exports are also made to the United States, Australia, and various other countries.

Up to now, air transportation has been a popular choice for shipping fishery products. However, the need for transit flights has been a barrier to air transportation of fishery products. The government is working to overcome this barrier by opening access to “Direct Call” flights.

1. Direct Call as an Export Efficiency Effort

Direct call flights are direct flights from one airport to another without transit. Previously, cargo flights from Indonesia to export destinations had to transit in Jakarta. However, at present, cargo shipments to the destination can be made directly from the city of origin, such as on the routes Manado-Tokyo, Ambon-Sydney, and Makassar-Hong Kong. Exporting fishery products through direct call flights has three advantages, namely:

• Shorter shipping time Fishery products from Indonesia can be sent directly to the destination country, so the shipping time is shorter.
• Cheaper costs The cost of shipping through direct call is generally cheaper than shipping through transit. In addition, there are no additional costs for temporary product storage.
• Better product quality Fishery products do not need to undergo a transit process that can reduce their quality.

2. Maintaining the Quality of Fishery Export Products

Exported fishery products must be guaranteed in terms of quality and safety. In this regard, the Indonesian Central Fisheries Quarantine and Quality Control Agency (BKIPM) plays a role in ensuring this. BKIPM carries out fish quarantine checks and quality testing to ensure that exported fishery products meet the established quality standards.

The Head of BKIPM Makassar, Siti Chadidjah, emphasized that BKIPM will always support efforts to ensure the quality and safety of fishery products. This aims to increase export opportunities, product selling prices, and consumer confidence in Indonesian fishery products.

3. Government Support for Fishery Product Exports

The KKP, together with the provincial and district governments, collaborate to ensure the success of fishery product exports. This collaboration is carried out to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of exports, as well as to improve the competitiveness of fishery products in the global market.

As stated by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, the KKP will provide support to fishery businesses. This support includes mentoring, certification, market potential analysis, and assurance of the quality and safety of fishery products.

Direct call flights are a positive step to increase fishery product exports. This mechanism is expected to reduce export costs and time, so that Indonesian fishery products can reach international markets more quickly and easily.

Aruna, as a fishery company committed to sustainable fisheries, also supports the increase in fishery product exports. We help fishermen to reach a wider market, both domestically and internationally.

You can also support the export of fishery products by consuming more local seafood. This will increase the demand for Indonesian fishery products and create greater export opportunities for the fisheries sector. With joint efforts, Indonesia can become the world’s largest producer of fishery products.

Aruna Zero Waste: Transforming Fishery Waste for a Sustainable Marine Ecosystem

The fisheries industry is a vital sector for Indonesia, but its massive production scale poses challenges in waste management. Fishery waste, comprising heads, bones, skins, fins, scales, and entrails, is estimated to account for 30-40% of the total weight of fishery products.

Improperly managed fishery waste can have negative environmental impacts, including pollution and damage to marine ecosystems. To address this issue, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) encourages all stakeholders to embrace a zero-waste approach in the fisheries industry. What is the concept of zero waste in fishery products, and how is Aruna working to implement it?

Zero Waste in Fishery Products

The concept of zero waste in fisheries involves utilizing every part of the fish and minimizing waste. Budi Sulistiyo, Director General for Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fisheries Products, highlights that every component of a fish can be turned into an economically valuable products.

For example, in the application of zero waste to fish, fish meat can be processed into fillets, steaks, and loins. Meanwhile, fish bones and heads can be transformed into snacks, pharmaceutical ingredients, and industrial materials. Additionally, fish entrails can be used to produce livestock feed.

Trisna Ningsih, Head of the Central Testing Institute for the Application of Marine and Fisheries Products, explains that the value of fishery products can be enhanced through processing. Raw fish has a low value due to its perishable nature. However, processing fish into processed foods, health supplements, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and animal feed can increase its value.

Zero Waste as Part of Sustainable Fisheries

The application of zero waste in fishery products is a form of sustainable fishing practice, consisting of three principles:

1. Selective fishing, using environmentally friendly methods and gear while avoiding overfishing.
2. Efficient fish processing, involving the utilization of every part of the fish.
3. Creative waste utilization, transforming waste into useful and value-added products.

By implementing these principles, the amount of fishery waste ending up as trash is reduced, supporting the sustainability of marine ecosystems.

Aruna Zero Waste Hub

As a fisheries company committed to environmental sustainability, Aruna also adopts zero waste management. The Aruna Zero Waste Hub is established to reduce, or even eliminate, fishery production waste.

One of our hubs in Bangkalan, East Java, has a drying facility to process crab shells into fish feed. Activities at the Aruna Zero Waste Hub involve coastal communities guided by Aruna’s Local Heroes. The goal is to minimize waste and diversify products.

Jerry Sambuaga, Deputy Minister of Trade, states that Aruna’s zero waste program is part of the effort to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to Sustainable Cities and Communities. Through the Aruna Zero Waste Hub, we support MMAF’s initiative to implement zero waste in fishery products. Additionally, we conduct education and awareness campaigns on utilizing fishery waste to support sustainable fisheries.

As consumers, you can contribute to this zero-waste program by choosing fishery products from sustainable sources and utilizing every part of the product. For instance, turning fish heads into delicious dishes, consuming shrimp with their heads and shells, and cooking squid with its ink.

The implementation of zero waste in fishery products can bring widespread benefits to the environment, economy, and society, representing a crucial step toward realizing a sustainable future for our oceans.

Aruna Creates Sustainable Fisheries Forum

On March 17 and 18 2022, Aruna, a fisheries startup from Indonesia that is revolutionizing the seafood trade ecosystem through technology, held an event entitled “Indonesia Ocean Sustainability Forum (IOSF) 2022 by Aruna”.

As one of a series of events for Aruna’s 6th anniversary, IOSF 2022 by Aruna presents an FGD, talk show and webinar that thoroughly examines the implementation of marine ecosystem sustainability. Aruna’s 6th anniversary event was also attended by various expert speakers, such as academics, government officials, business practitioners and NGOs.

The event was opened by Aruna’s Co-Founder and Chief Sustainability Officer, Utari Octavianty. She said, “IOSF 2022 by Aruna marks our optimism in the sustainability of marine ecosystems which can be implemented through responsible business processes in economic, social and environmental aspects. Until now, through our Local Heroes in the field, we educate fishermen about many things, such as knowledge of using environmentally friendly fishing gear and the importance of the concept of sustainability. “On the other hand, we also facilitate them with access to capital, health insurance, as well as providing employment opportunities for the fishermen’s wives.”

Attended by Experts In The Field of Fisheries

The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KP) of the Republic of Indonesia, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, represented by the Head of the KP Research and Human Resources Agency, I Nyoman Radiarta, also provided his support regarding ecological and economic harmony in marine ecosystems or known as the Blue Economy. This Blue Economy is believed to be able to open up investment and employment opportunities, as well as further boost the national economy. Concurring with this, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said that his party was also ready to collect global commitments in order to realize marine health restoration by implementing fishing quotas. The commitment is made to realize sustainable fisheries and seafood. On the same occasion, LPEM UI also presented the results of its research regarding improving the economy of coastal communities following the presence of Aruna as a domestic startup operating in the fishery industry.

Outcome from the IOSF 2022 forum

To find out in more detail, the IOSF 2022 by Aruna research and events as a whole refer to the 3 main points below, namely:

• The importance of formulating and grounding the Blue Economy concept and having a clear blue print regarding Indonesia’s fisheries strategy.
• There is a need for assistance and education for Indonesian fishermen about Climate Change and its impact on marine commodities.
• Formulation of government regulations that are steady and pro-community. This is done so that business actors can operate more calmly and the level of investor confidence in the fisheries sector in Indonesia will be higher.

The hope is that these 3 points can become our shared framework for achieving ecosystem and fisheries sustainability. “Indonesia Ocean Sustainability Forum (IOSF) 2022 by Aruna” marks Aruna’s commitment to the welfare of all stakeholders in the fishing industry, starting from fishermen, coastal communities, business people, government, and the general public, such as consumers.