By: Usmawati Anggita Sakti (Communication Assistant Seafood Savers)

Eel (Anguilla sp), known as "eared eel" or unagi in Japan, is one of the fish that has high economic value in local and international markets. Processed eel known as unagi kabayaki (grilled eel) is one of the favorite foods in Japan. The high market interest in eel has resulted in some species being threatened with extinction. Currently, three of the world's eel species are threatened (endangered), namely the American (Anguilla rostrata), European (Anguilla anguilla) and Japanese (Anguilla japonica) eels.

Recognizing this, a roasted eel producer in East Java is determined to conduct an environmentally friendly eel farming improvement program and ensure that its resources are sustainable. That is PT Iroha Sidat Indonesia, which on Friday, February 2, signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Seafood Savers Pre-Member Cooperation in improving the cultivation and management of eel resources with the Seafood Savers team, WWF-Indonesia.

PT Iroha Sidat Indonesia is a company engaged in the cultivation and processing of eel Anguilla bicolor and Anguilla marmorata in Indonesia. The company grows eels in ponds located in Banyuwangi from fry size (glass eel) to consumption size. Furthermore, the eel harvested from the ponds will be processed into frozen roasted eel (kabayaki) at its processing plant with an automatic roasting machine to meet the domestic and international market share, namely Japan.

Adhering to the vision of "To be a world-class, environmentally friendly company in kabayaki production" and the mission of "To be a leading manufacturer of quality kabayaki products for the benefit of all industry stakeholders", the company is committed to engaging in the AIP (Aquaculture Improvement Program) aquaculture improvement program through participation in the Seafood Savers program.

This time, PT Iroha Sidat Indonesia and WWF's challenge is not the same as other companies that have become Seafood Savers members. Together, PT Iroha Sidat Indonesia and WWF are committed to building responsible eel farming Better Management Practices.

"This collaboration between WWF and PT Iroha Sidat Indonesia is a public private partnership for Indonesia's eel fisheries, which is committed to establishing guidelines for responsible aquaculture practices that include efforts to maintain the sustainability of eel resources caught from Indonesian seas," said Abdullah Habibi, Manager of WWF-Indonesia's Capture and Aquaculture Improvement Team.

This cooperation is also directed to explore the possibility of conducting research cooperation between Indonesian and Japanese researchers, with support from the company and Seafood Savers - WWF as part of civil society and the basis for establishing responsible aquaculture practices and sustainable eel resource utilization practices.