Bappenas, Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, and FAO Promote Aquatic Food Sources to Support Indonesia’s Food Security

The Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, together with the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has launched a joint action plan to advance Indonesia’s aquatic food sources as part of efforts to achieve sustainable food security.

This joint action plan outlines multisectoral strategies to ensure sustainable aquaculture, capture fisheries, and value-chain management, while also enhancing climate resilience for millions of Indonesia’s coastal and aquaculture communities to secure their livelihoods.

“This joint action plan is an early step towards building a stronger commitment, serving as a reference for future implementation. Through the launch of this document, we hope aquatic food will play a greater role in improving public nutrition, strengthening food security, and driving sustainable development,” said the Deputy for Food, Natural Resources, and Environment at Bappenas, Leonardo A. A. Teguh Sambodo, on Wednesday (10 September).

Aquatic food is a key component of the Blue Transformation agenda initiated by FAO through its 2022–2031 Strategic Framework. The transformation focuses on three main aspects: better production, better nutrition, and a better environment and life.

According to data from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesia was the world’s second-largest fish producer in 2022, with annual production exceeding 20 million tonnes. The fisheries sector contributed around USD 32.11 billion, or 2.6 percent of Indonesia’s GDP that year, with more than 3.7 million households depending on it as their primary source of income.

“Indonesia’s diverse aquatic food resources hold many advantages, including their rich nutritional value, relatively lower environmental impact, and more affordable prices compared to other animal-based foods. By maximising aquatic food development, we can achieve food and nutrition security without sacrificing the environment or people’s livelihoods,” said Deputy for Marine Resources at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, Dandy Satrya Iswara.

The joint action plan document is the outcome of a two-year consultation process involving stakeholders at both national and regional levels. It follows the establishment of the National Blue Agenda Actions Partnership (NBAAP) in 2022, initiated by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs and now coordinated by the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, together with Bappenas, the UN in Indonesia, and other development partners.

The initiatives include creating an enabling environment to promote domestic consumption of aquatic food particularly in areas with high malnutrition rates, as well as developing a sustainable, adaptive, and inclusive aquatic food supply chain supported by research and innovation.

“There is an urgent need for an integrated and collaborative approach in developing Indonesia’s aquatic food sector. Advancing aquatic food means empowering millions of small-scale farmers in coastal communities, including women and youth, in both harvesting and post-harvest processes,” said FAO Representative in Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Rajendra Aryal.

With this joint action plan, Indonesia reaffirms its commitment to strengthening food security while preserving marine resources. Cross-sector collaboration and support from development partners are expected to form the foundation for a healthy, sustainable, and inclusive aquatic food system for the future of the nation’s nutrition and wellbeing.