LocationsCelebrating the World Fisheries Day - Driving Innovation in Sustainable Fisheries in Southeast Asia
November 21, 2024
Today, on World Fisheries Day, we reflect on the vital role sustainable and inclusive fisheries play in global economies, especially for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. For these nations, the connection between their economies and the sea is deep and indispensable. Fisheries and aquaculture are not only crucial to the ocean economy but also form a significant portion of their GDP, supporting millions of livelihoods.
The ocean economy plays a vital role in driving the GDP of many Southeast Asian countries.
Share of Ocean Economy to Gross Domestic Product(1)
The Importance of Fisheries in ASEAN
Around 25% of the world’s fish production comes from the 10 ASEAN nations. Indonesia alone employs an estimated 12 million people in the fisheries sector.[2] They will continue to provide a quarter of the world’s fish demand between 2030 and 2050, with half of that coming from aquaculture, including species like pangasius, carp, tilapia, and shrimp.[3] Although capture fisheries will continue to play a role, the rapid growth of aquaculture in recent years has been transformative, with capture production largely stagnant.
Aquaculture's contribution has surpassed that of capture fisheries in the fishery sector in the ASEAN countries over the past 20 years.
A Growing Industry with Environmental Challenges
However, this growth brings its own set of challenges. As aquaculture becomes the primary source of fish exports, it is essential to tackle its environmental impacts. The challenge now for ASEAN nations is to balance the growing demand for fish with the protection of marine ecosystems, ensuring that both the economy and environment thrive together.
Fostering Innovation in Sustainable Fisheries
To accelerate the shift toward a sustainable and inclusive fisheries sector, the "ASEAN Blue Economy Innovation" project, for which Blue Innovation Challenge is a key part, funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by the ASEAN Secretariat and UNDP Indonesia, is supporting innovation projects that promote the blue economy sector in the ASEAN nation and Timor-Leste.
Among the 60 winners of the Innovation Challenge, 20 focus on sustainable fisheries, advancing sustainability and productivity by adopting precision aquaculture and circularity in fisheries, and combating illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing, as well as addressing the issue of abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG). These initiatives are crucial to ensuring ASEAN’s fisheries remain resilient and sustainable for future generations, balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship.
Introducing Innovation Projects
Let’s explore some of the exciting innovation projects supported by our project:
1. Fish Value Addition: Zero Waste
One focus area of this Challenge is value addition of marine products, where every part of the fish, shrimp, and seaweed is transformed into valuable products like supplement and bio stimulant. This approach minimizes waste and maximizes resource use with focus on value addition. Some notable winners include:
Berikan Protein Initiative from Indonesia produces highly digestible, nutrient-rich Fish Protein Hydrolysate from fish by-products, empowering fisherwomen and tackling nutritional gaps.
Collabit, also from Indonesia, turns tuna waste into fish peptides, valuable in agriculture and aquaculture as feed and biostimulants.
The Aquaculture Group from the Philippines is developing a seaweed-based biostimulant that improves crop yields and reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers, boosting sustainable economic growth in local communities.
2. Precision Aquaculture
The advent of precision aquaculture is helping optimize fish and shrimp farming. Using digital technologies, sensors and automated systems, their solutions monitor water quality and fish and shrimp health in real-time, optimizing feeding and reducing waste. Some winning projects include:
Gikoko Kogyo Indonesia integrates nanobubbles, ozone treatment, and IoT monitoring technology to improve shrimp farming, reducing mortality and boosting productivity.
The Aquaculture of Lao enhances fish hatcheries with data-driven methods, incorporating sensors and AI to improve operations and protect biodiversity.
3. Biotechnologies in Fisheries
Biotechnologies are revolutionizing fish farming and conservation. By using novel biological techniques, these innovations improve fish breeding, disease resistance, and feed sustainability. Notable winners include:
UniFAHS from Thailand develops phage therapy to combat bacterial infections in aquaculture, offering a sustainable alternative to antibiotics.
Aquagentech from the Philippines created an app that detects viruses in shrimp through real-time monitoring, eliminating the need for traditional lab tests.
Udayana University from Indonesia uses Bacillus species to fight bacterial diseases in shrimp, offering an antibiotic-free solution that promotes sustainability.
4. Circularity in Fisheries
Circularity in fisheries is about creating closed-loop systems that minimize waste and enhance sustainability. Some standout projects include:
The Techo Sen Institute of Public Works and Transport from Cambodia developed an aquaponics system, combining hydroponics and fish farming, where fish waste fertilizes crops, creating a mutually beneficial ecosystem.
Yayasan Sinergi Akuakultur from Indonesia turns shrimp farm sludge into organic fertilizer for crops, providing a sustainable livelihood for local communities.
5. Combating Illegal Fishing & ALDFG
Illegal fishing and discarded fishing gear pose major threats to marine ecosystems. To combat these issues, some innovative projects include:
OBX Solutions from the Philippines uses a mobile app and remote sensing technology to track illegal fishing and facilitate quick emergency responses in coastal areas.
EcoThailand addresses ALDFG using drones and GIS for efficient retrieval and recycling of abandoned gear, reducing marine pollution.
The ASEAN Blue Economy Innovation Challenge is helping transform the fisheries sector by supporting novel projects that are ready to scale up to accelerate the inclusive and sustainable blue economy sector in the ASEAN region and beyond. It also supports project addressing marine plastic pollution and climate change and accelerating sustainable tourism. These projects highlight the power of innovation in ensuring that the growth of ASEAN’s blue economy is sustainable and inclusive, making strides toward a future where both the economy and the environment can thrive together.
For more information about the project and 60 winners, please visit our website at https://www.undp.org/indonesia/asean-blue-innovation-challenge.
[1] “Financing The Ocean Back to Health in Southeast Asia: Approaches for Mainstreaming Blue Finance” Asian Development Bank and ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility”. December 2021
[2] Invest in ASEAN. Riccardi, et al. 2020
[3] “Fish to 2050 in the ASEAN Region”. Chan et al. 2017
[4] Author’s calculation, using FAO data