19 Nov 2025
KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia has made a historic stride in sustainable and responsible fisheries management, becoming the first nation globally to implement a government-operated seafood traceability system that meets the highest international standards.
The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) announced this significant accomplishment to boost the credibility and market access of Indonesian fishery products worldwide.
The achievement is attributed to the enhancement of the National Fish Traceability and Logistics System (Stelina), which has successfully complied with the rigorous standards set by the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST).
Acting Director General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP) at KKP, Machmud, confirmed the landmark recognition on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
“This success has officially recognized Indonesia by the GDST as the first country in the world to have a government-operated, global-standard fisheries traceability system,” said Machmud, highlighting the system’s integration, as quoted by Antara.
The adoption of the GDST standard through Stelina is a critical strategic move to solidify Indonesia’s position in the international seafood market. The global market is increasingly demanding transparency across the supply chain to guarantee that products are sourced through legal, sustainable, and responsible fishing and processing practices.
Machmud elaborated that the digital system ensures traceability of fishery products from ‘hulu ke hilir’ (upstream to downstream).
“The implementation of the GDST standard on Stelina demonstrates that Indonesia has successfully implemented global standards for a credible and accountable traceability system in the maritime and fisheries sector,” he explained.
By using Stelina, business actors can verify the origin of their fish, including the specific catching methods and processing details. This capability is expected to increase international confidence in Indonesian seafood exports dramatically.
“Through Stelina, businesses can verify the origin of the fish they produce, including the fishing methods and processing methods. This will increase international market confidence in Indonesian fishery products,” Machmud said.
The KKP is leveraging its success to promote better fisheries governance across the region. The ministry is collaborating with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to host an On-site Training on the Implementation of National Fish Traceability and Logistics Systems (Stelina).
This initiative, held in Surabaya from November 10–13, 2025, is a component of a capacity-building program aimed at strengthening efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in Southeast Asia.
“This activity also demonstrates Indonesia’s active role in encouraging the implementation of a standardized fisheries traceability system at the regional level,” Machmud noted.
By sharing its experience and best practices, Indonesia is not only bolstering its national capacity but also helping SEAFDEC member countries develop their own integrated traceability systems aligned with international standards.
The GDST standard itself is an international protocol developed by various stakeholders in the global fisheries industry. It mandates specific Key Data Elements (KDEs)—such as catch location, catching method, vessel permits, landing data, and certification, that must be recorded for a traceability system to gain global recognition.
In line with the government’s comprehensive Blue Economy program, KKP plans to expand Stelina’s implementation to all major fishing centers in Indonesia. This move aims to ensure product traceability, push for fisheries downstreaming (hilirisasi), and ultimately increase added value across every supply chain segment, thereby supporting national economic growth and ecological sustainability.