UNAIR offers solutions to fishery issues

Universitas Airlangga once again demonstrated its growing presence on the global academic stage. This time, Vice Rector for Academic, Student and Alumni Affairs, Prof Ir Mochammad Amin Alamsjah MSi PhD represented UNAIR at the 7th ASEAN+3 Rectors’ Conference, a major regional gathering hosted by Can Tho University in Vietnam on Wednesday–Thursday (Nov 19–20, 2025).

Held under the theme Beyond Borders: Strengthening Networks, Sharing Excellence, and Advancing Sustainable ASEAN+3 Collaboration, the ASEAN+3 Rectors’ Conference convenes top university leaders, presidents, rectors, and vice rectors, from institutions within the ASEAN+3 University Network (ASEAN+3 UNet), alongside partners from China, Japan, and South Korea. The event serves as an important platform for discussing collaborative strategies to address shared higher education and regional challenges.

During the conference, Prof Alamsjah delivered a presentation titled “Sustainable Development Programs of Fisheries and Marine in Indonesia.” His remarks centered on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indonesia’s four Fisheries Management Areas (WPP-NRI), where fishing activity plunged significantly.

According to fisheries analysts from Global Fishing Watch (GFW), this decline produced both positive and negative consequences. While decreased activity allowed fish stocks to recover, it simultaneously disrupted the economic livelihoods of local fishermen.

The senior professor from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPK) added that biodiversity-based industries remained relatively resilient during the pandemic, recording positive growth despite widespread economic pressures. “This situation underscores Indonesia’s need to reinforce sustainable fisheries systems, ranging from regulations and production processes to resource management,” he said.

In response, the government introduced a renewed set of policy priorities. These include improving fisheries governance, simplifying licensing systems, strengthening aquaculture, expanding downstream industries, and advancing research capacity and human resource development. These initiatives align with the nation’s Blue Economy framework, which emphasizes ecological sustainability while strengthening maritime economic sectors.

Aquaculture development has become another core priority. As Indonesia’s population grows, so does its demand for protein, making both marine and inland aquaculture increasingly critical for reducing pressure on ocean capture fisheries. “High-value commodities such as shrimp, lobster, crab, milkfish, snapper, and seaweed are seeing continuous technological upgrades. Modern concepts like internationally standardized shrimp estates are being developed to increase productivity in areas that still rely on traditional, low-yield farming methods,” he explained.

Despite its potential, Indonesia’s fisheries sector continues to face multiple threats, including overfishing, weak oversight, low productivity, illegal levies, limited access to quality broodstock, and low participation from younger generations. Indonesia seeks to address these issues through an integrated strategy that incorporates technology, conservation, regulatory reform, and community engagement, ensuring the sector contributes to economic growth while maintaining ecological stability.

At the conference, Prof Alamsjah proposed a comprehensive model for sustainable fisheries and marine development. His plan outlines six key components: improving assessment capabilities; reforming fisheries governance; reducing excess fishing capacity; enhancing access management and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; strengthening human and institutional capability; building adequate operational capacity; and protecting biodiversity to sustain long-term productivity.

Prof Alamsjah noted that his presentation received positive feedback from participants. “The forum was well-regarded by representatives from ASEAN countries, Japan, China, South Korea, and scientific organizations such as JICA and ASEN-FEN,” he said.