By: Vinni Nurizky (Sharks Conservation Campaigner)

Responsible fishing activities are necessary to preserve marine resources. The importance of sustainable marine resources also needs to be understood by people who depend on fishing businesses, one of which is by using environmentally friendly fishing gear. Fishing is one of the threats to the existence of endangered marine life and protected species, so it is one of the important criteria for environmentally friendly fishing gear.

In addition to the capture of endangered marine life and protected species, the capture of fish that have not reached adulthood (juvenile fish) is also a problem that can disrupt the balance of aquatic ecosystems, because it does not provide an opportunity for them to mature and produce new offspring to maintain their population.

Technology development and fishing gear modification are solutions to build sustainable fisheries. In Indonesia, several fishing gear modifications have been implemented, such as circle hooks on Longline Fishing Rods, TEDs on Trawlers, and the use of LED lights on gillnets with positive responses from various parties.

WWF-Indonesia together with Semarang Fishing Center, a Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) under the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, held an event entitled Gelar Teknologi: Environmentally Friendly Fishing Gear which will be held at the BBPI Semarang office for 2 days on September 5 - 6, 2018.

A number of agendas are organized to discuss several topics including alternatives to trawl fishing gear and regulation of fishing for juvenile fish in a workshop attended by academics and experts. In parallel, dozens of booths will enliven the main page of BBPI Semarang and showcase dozens of technologies and modifications of existing fishing gear in Indonesia.

Curious about the sophistication of technology and the extent of the development of fishing gear in Indonesia? Come on! Come and enliven this technology degree exhibition, which will be held in less than 2 days!