Strengthening Sustainable Fisheries Through Responsible Fishing Gear

Bombana, South Sulawesi — 6 December 2025. PT Jala Crabindo International (PT JCI) continues to demonstrate strong commitment to responsible and sustainable blue swimming crab fisheries by implementing the Fishing Gear Swap program across its supply chain. The initiative distributes bubu fishing gear to replace traditional gillnets, especially in key harvesting regions.

The latest activity was held in Bombana, South Sulawesi, involving company representatives and local blue swimming crab fishers. Through this effort, PT JCI aims to build a more responsible fishing system, reduce bycatch risks, support fisher livelihoods, and maintain export access under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

Why the Fishing Gear Swap Matters for Indonesia’s Blue Swimming Crab Sector

Sustainable fishing gear is increasingly important for Indonesia’s crab industry. Global seafood markets today require strong compliance with traceability and marine sustainability standards. Therefore, the transition from gillnets to bubu traps plays a significant role in strengthening legality and supply chain accountability.

Adopting bubu fishing gear is expected to:

reduce accidental bycatch

protect marine mammals and biodiversity

improve traceability along the supply chain

support sustainable stock management

secure long-term export market access

ensure responsible harvesting practices

In addition, environmentally safer fishing gear encourages gradual transformation that can bring long-term ecological and economic benefits for both fishers and processing companies.

Who Benefits From the Program?

The Fishing Gear Swap implementation involves collaboration between company stakeholders and local fishers in Bombana. Through direct support, PT JCI ensures that small-scale fishers continue operating without being disadvantaged by regulatory requirements.

Fishers benefit through:

continued livelihood from blue swimming crab harvesting

legal fishing practices aligned with export demands

higher product value due to traceability assurance

reduced risk of gear confiscation due to non-compliance

increased long-term fishing sustainability

Meanwhile, PT JCI benefits by ensuring that its supply chain remains aligned with international regulations, especially those related to marine mammal protection.

How the Initiative Supports MMPA Compliance

The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) requires supplying countries, including Indonesia, to prove that seafood imported into the United States is harvested using fishing practices that minimize harm to marine mammals.

Fishing Gear Swap activities—such as replacing gillnets with bubu traps—are a direct step toward satisfying these requirements. Consequently, this supports PT JCI’s ability to continue exporting blue swimming crab products into key international markets.

As a result, the program not only promotes sustainability but also secures future business continuity and export certifications.

Strategic Expansion: Bombana, Muna and Buton

The program in Bombana becomes the starting point for wider implementation in major blue swimming crab producing regions. PT JCI plans to continue distributions in:

Muna

Buton

These regions contribute significantly to Indonesia’s crab supply chain, making sustainability transitions highly critical.

The expansion reflects PT JCI’s strategic agenda to cover all nodes in the production chain, ensuring that sustainability and MMPA compliance apply consistently throughout.

Promoting Responsible Fisheries and Long-Term Ecosystem Protection

The Fishing Gear Swap program is not only designed to respond to international regulations. It also contributes to ecosystem conservation. With safer fishing methods, potential risks toward non-target species, including marine mammals, are minimized.

This strengthens Indonesia’s commitment toward:

sustainable marine resource management

biodiversity protection

responsible seafood production

long-term ecological balance

Because blue swimming crab resources rely on healthy habitats and coastal ecosystems, sustainability initiatives today will directly determine future harvest potential.

Supporting Fisher Livelihoods and Local Coastal Communities

Blue swimming crab remains an important livelihood source for thousands of small-scale fishers across Indonesia. By ensuring access to sustainable fishing gear, fishers can continue harvesting legally and responsibly.

Therefore, PT JCI’s program not only protects the environment, but also supports socio-economic continuity for coastal communities who depend on blue swimming crab harvesting.

How PT JCI Integrates Sustainability into Its Business Strategy

PT JCI’s sustainability approach is not limited to compliance. The company actively embeds responsible fisheries principles across its supply network.

Practical actions include:

direct fishing gear support

education and field socialization

communication with fishers

continuous supply chain monitoring

In the long term, PT JCI targets a fully traceable and responsible blue swimming crab network that supports both international certification and ethical seafood trade.

A Sustainable Path for Indonesia’s Blue Swimming Crab Industry

Indonesia has one of the world’s largest blue swimming crab resources, making it essential to implement sustainable fisheries management. Transformation programs such as Fishing Gear Swap provide an important foundation to ensure sustainable production for the next decades.

PT JCI’s initiative helps Indonesia secure:

better stock resilience

market access stability

improved international credibility

stronger industry competitiveness

greater sustainability alignment

Conclusion

The Fishing Gear Swap transformation in Bombana reflects PT JCI’s dedication to supporting Indonesia’s blue swimming crab sustainability agenda. With strategic expansion toward Muna and Buton, the company aims to ensure wider transition across its production network.

Through collaboration with fishers, PT JCI demonstrates that responsible practices, business continuity, and environmental stewardship can move forward together—ensuring long-term benefits for coastal communities, ecosystems, and the national seafood economy.