Human demographic considerations for the certification of seafood from developing countries: Food security and the tuna fishery in Indonesia, a case study

Indonesia is one of the countries with the biggest tuna captures globally. However, the country's large population, unmet domestic demand for fish, the fully fished or overfished status of over 81% of its fisheries, and the lack of robust management are worrying issues. Despite these concerns, the Marine Stewardship Council and Fair Trade USA have certified Indonesian pole and line and handline fisheries targeting tropical tuna species, specifically yellowfin tuna and skipjack. Here I will argue that donors, environmental non-governmental organisations, fishing associations, and seafood certification bodies should be prudent when seeking certification or certifying staple fish species for export from countries with these characteristics. They should deliberate whether the export of essential food species like skipjack and yellowfin tuna is in the best interest of Indonesia's coastal and vulnerable communities, explicitly because the country does not meet its internal demand for fish protein.