Ministry says zero-tariff tuna access needs stronger upstream sector
Director General of Capture Fisheries at the Ministry, Lotharia Latif, said the preferential tariff under the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA), which took effect on Aug. 1, 2026, opens significant opportunities to expand Indonesia’s tuna and skipjack exports.
However, Latif said Indonesia can capitalise on the opportunity only by ensuring a steady supply of high-quality, legally sourced, traceable tuna harvested through responsible fishing practices.
“The zero-percent preferential tariff is a major opportunity for Indonesia to increase tuna and skipjack exports. However, competitiveness must start from the upstream,” Latif said in a statement issued by the Ministry in Jakarta on Monday.
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According to him, tuna quality is determined from the moment fish are caught in the sea. Proper onboard handling, an effective cold chain, and careful unloading at the fishing ports are critical to meeting food safety standards in export markets.
In an effort to strengthen the upstream sector, the Ministry continues to train tuna fishers, fishing crews, and business operators in responsible fishing methods, onboard fish handling, unloading techniques, catch logbook recording, and export traceability requirements.
Latif said the ministry is also reinforcing tuna resource management through its Measured Fishing policy, which regulates fishing activities based on the sustainable potential of fish stocks in each Indonesian Fisheries Management Area.
He said sustainable fisheries management would ensure reliable raw material supplies for processing industries while strengthening the competitiveness of Indonesia’s fishery exports.
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At the international level, the Ministry continues to strengthen Indonesia’s position in regional fisheries management organisations, including the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, and the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna.
Latif said Indonesia utilise the forums to advocate fair access for tuna resources based on scientific data and compliance with fisheries conservation and management measures.
According to Ministry’s data, Indonesia’s fishery exports to Japan reached US$613.65 million, equivalent to about Rp11 trillion, in 2025, up 2.5 percent from the previous year.
Exports of processed tuna and skipjack products covered by the new zero-percent IJEPA tariff totaled US$76.41 million, equivalent to about Rp1.37 trillion, in 2025, an increase of 21 percent from 2024.
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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak