By: Kurnia Dwi Agustina (Seafood Savers Communication Assistant)

Production of shrimp aquaculture in Indonesia in the last five years has shown an increase. In 2015, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has targeted a growth in shrimp production of 786,000 tons. This figure consists of 518,600 tons of vannamei shrimp, 189,700 tons of tiger shrimp, and 77,600 tons of other shrimp species.

With indications of an increase in the volume of shrimp production in Indonesia, the tendency of business competition will be more intense. To improve the competitiveness of vannamei shrimp commodities, PT Bumi Menara Internusa (BMI) collaborates with Seafood Savers and starts a responsible production process by paying attention to environmental aspects and ecosystem health.

Sales and Marketing Director of PT Bumi Menara Internusa Aris Utama said, "The fisheries industry and its processing must be carried out in line with the responsibility of business actors to preserve the environment and the sustainability of this industry."

With this spirit, BMI signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation Agreement with WWF-Indonesia on October 25, 2016, in Jakarta. "By collaborating with WWF-Indonesia through the Seafood Savers Initiative, BMI is committed to supporting the improvement of sustainable fisheries practices in Indonesia," he added.

WWF Indonesia's Coral Triangle Program Director Wawan Ridwan said, "With the projected increase in population, as well as increasing consumer awareness of responsibly and sustainably produced fishery products, companies must innovate by providing products according to market needs as evidenced by the fulfillment of standards and certifications from the market."

By joining BMI as a member of Seafood Savers, WWF-Indonesia will support sustainable aquaculture management based on the Aquaculture Improvement Program (AIP) Work Plan. The work plan was developed by WWF-Indonesia's Aquaculture Team and refers to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) standard to be applied to the vannamei shrimp farming unit located in Probolinggo, East Java.

BMI is an exporter of fishery products with main markets in Europe and the United States. The company, headquartered in Surabaya, has a vision to become a fishery product processor that can exceed the highest standards in terms of food safety, sustainability and quality. In line with this commitment, WWF-Indonesia and BMI will work together to improve aquaculture practices towards ASC certification in order to preserve nature and improve the competitiveness of Indonesian shrimp commodities in the global market.