As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regional collaboration on Abandoned, Lost, or otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG), the ATSEA team conducted a series of consultations with Indonesia’s national stakeholders in Jakarta and Bogor from 22 to 25 July 2025. The discussions aimed to share preliminary findings from earlier field visits to Merauke (in May) and the Aru Archipelago District (in June) and to gather input from key institutions to shape a grounded and collaborative approach to managing ALDFG.

During the consultations, Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) emphasised that current policies focus on solutions that are practical, scalable, and do not create regulatory burdens, especially for small-scale fishers. “Indonesia’s current policy direction in addressing ALDFG is focused on applying the principles of 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) as well as promoting a circular economy approach in fisheries management,” explained Mochhamad Idnillah, Director of Fishing Vessels and Gear.

The Directorate of Fishing Vessels and Gear (Kapal Perikanan dan Alat Penangkapan Ikan-KAPI) also highlighted that, while gear marking is globally recognised as a measure to reduce ALDFG, applying it uniformly across Indonesia remains challenging due to the diversity of fisheries. What works for longliners in Java may not suit gillnet fishers in Merauke. Therefore, The Directorate stressed that any approach to gear management must be tailored to reflect differences in gear type, fleet scale, and regional context.

Private sector representatives echoed this view, noting that gear marking can be effective but must be adapted to fishers’ capacities. For example, artisanal fishers may only be able to apply basic barcodes, colour codes, or simple tags. While the mid- to large- scale fisheries operators are able to utilise trackers or electronic detection systems.

It was also discovered that gear related decisions were often made onboard by the captain. Captains and crews play a major role in how gear is used and maintained, making it essential to involve vessel captains and crews in designing solutions. These actors have firsthand experience of how gear is deployed, maintained, lost, discarded or retrieved, yet their involvement is often overlooked in designing solutions. 

Some stakeholders also proposed several practical ideas that may help to manage gear loss. These included implementing a tiered tagging system based on vessel type and size, promoting reward-based schemes that encourage fishers to return damaged or unused gear in exchange for discounts on new gear. Additionally, engaging small scale fishers in the coastal community to collect lost or discarded nets, drawing inspiration from past initiatives by the Environmental Justice Foundation through its Net Free Seas project, was also highlighted as a promising model for future community level implementation. 

Academia and experts underscored the limited availability of data and information related to ALDFG. They recommended conducting further studies to better understand its nature (e.g., how much gear is lost and how it is transported) by carrying out field assessments using digital survey tools, reverse engineering techniques, and gear tracking to monitor net drift.

Lastly, there was a strong encouragement to broaden collaboration beyond the fisheries sector. This includes involving the Ministries of Trade and Industry to improve upstream regulation on how fishing gear are made, used, and recycled across its life cycle. 

One key takeaway from this consultation trip is the reminder that marine debris including ghost gear doesn’t know borders. They can travel far from where it lost, affecting distant coastal communities and the shared ecosystems. 

As the ATSEA Program moves toward co-developing a Regional Action Plan to address ALDFG in the Arafura and Timor Seas region, insights from this trip will help shape future strategies that are both aligned with national priorities and responsive to local needs, while also recognising that ALDFG knows no borders.

By Chyntia Rachmadanti