The past two years have seen dramatic political changes with respect to Indonesia’s maritime policies and marine capture fisheries governance. Indonesia’s fish resources have been exploited with limited or no concern for sustainability due to large Illegal fishing presence which also facilitated other abuses, namely wildlife trafficking, drug smuggling , and exploitation of forced labor on fishing boats. One of the most important issues to watch going forward is whether the minister provides a plan for meeting the dual goals of increasing fisheries production to meet ambitious government targets while simultaneously improving sustainable resource management. Clearly, the retention of control of the management of fisheries is essential for the purpose of meeting domestic political objectives. We need better scenarios for key political will and the new legally binding laws and regulations. One crucial step for this matter is that encourage national fisheries sector to reach its sovereignty and restrict any foreign interference on fisheries sector.

            Currently, there are two critical regulations issued to support and accelerate fisheries sector. The National Fisheries Industry Acceleration Program has been included in Presidential Decree No. 3 of 2017 and focusing on sustainable fishing and aquaculture, zoning and region development,  and fisheries product processing industry.  In accordance with institutional and financing, there is Presidential Regulation No.  44 of 2016 that strongly constitute foreign direct investment  (FDI) on fisheries sector. Certain types of activities are fully or partially restricted when it comes to FDI. Businesses which are not regulated in this Presidential Regulation are open for Foreign Capital Investment. One more highlighted issue that has to be main focus of fisheries policy is the global recognition of national fisheries management. By current condition, the marine stewardship council, an international certification program, is one goal that determine whether fisheries standards have been implemented or not, such as sustainable fish stocks, minimizing environmental impacts, and effective management. Access to fishery resources in the sea is the traditional livelihoods asset of households in coastal fishing communities in Indonesia. The nature of fisheries sector is a shared resource, once it lost, then this would be a loss to all.