UKDW Hosts 3rd International Seminar on Fish and Fisheries Sciences
Yogyakarta — As a maritime nation with over 17,000 islands, Indonesia’s fisheries sector plays a crucial role in national food security and in sustaining the livelihoods of millions in coastal communities. According to the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), the total number of islands in the archipelago rose from 17,374 in 2023 to 17,380 in 2024. This increase signals not only expanded territorial reach but also new opportunities for marine resource development and ecotourism. Yet, these opportunities come with mounting challenges, including aquatic ecosystem degradation, pollution, overfishing, and the impacts of climate change, all of which threaten the sustainability of fish stocks. Addressing these concerns requires a scientific, collaborative, and community-based ecosystem management approach.
To confront these challenges, the Faculty of Biotechnology at Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW), in collaboration with the Indonesian Ichthyological Society (MII), the Department of Fisheries at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and the Marine and Fisheries Office of the Yogyakarta Special Region, organized the 3rd International Seminar on Fish and Fisheries Sciences. With the theme “Management of Aquatic Ecosystems for Sustainability of Fish Resources and Fisheries,” the event took place from June 10 to 12, 2025, at the Koinonia Auditorium, UKDW, Yogyakarta.
According to Dr. Djoko Rahardjo, M.Kes., Chair of the Organizing Committee, the seminar was held in a hybrid format and brought together 160 participants from 74 institutions, including government agencies, industry representatives, NGOs, and academic institutions, both from Indonesia and abroad. The conference aimed to enhance scientific collaboration across sectors, encouraging knowledge exchange, joint research initiatives, and evidence-based policy formulation for sustainable fisheries management.
The seminar was formally opened by UKDW Rector Dr.-Ing. Wiyatiningsih, S.T., M.T., followed by keynote addresses from Dr. I Nyoman Radiarta, S.Pi., M.Sc., Head of the Human Resources Development and Extension Agency at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (representing the Minister), and Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Governor of the Yogyakarta Special Region.
In her remarks, Dr.-Ing. Wiyatiningsih emphasized the importance of sustainable aquatic ecosystem management and advancements in aquaculture technology, underscoring UKDW’s ongoing efforts in promoting environmental and fisheries sustainability.
Dr. Radiarta stated that Indonesia’s marine sector must become the epicenter of national development. He noted that food production from the marine sector has remained relatively stable over the past five years, with annual yields between 20 to 25 million tons.
Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X offered a reminder that while responding to market demands, increasing productivity, and adopting new aquaculture technologies are important, they must not lead to exploitative approaches that neglect ecological balance and long-term sustainability.
The conference also welcomed several prominent speakers from international and national institutions, including Pablina L. Cadiz, Ph.D. from Silliman University, the Philippines; Prof. Gyo Itani, Ph.D., Head of the Kuroshio Science Program at Kochi University, Japan; Dr. Imam Mustofa, Marine and Fisheries Program Director at WWF Indonesia; Jean Fall, Ph.D., from the Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture at the University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, Senegal; and Dr. Arif Wibowo, M.Si., Head of the Marine and Inland Water Resources Conservation Research Center at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
Adding to the event’s scope, the seminar featured a local MSME Expo, where 16 small businesses from Yogyakarta showcased fish-based products, receiving a warm reception from attendees and guests. The program also included the official launch of the Indonesian Crustacea Society, marking a significant step toward strengthening academic and industry engagement in crustacean research.
As part of the conference activities, a summer course workshop titled “Fish Taxonomy and Photographing” was held on June 11–12. This technical session offered hands-on training in fish taxonomy, specimen photography, PCR techniques, DNA barcoding, morphology, and larval identification. Seventeen selected participants took part in this intensive training.
Through this seminar, UKDW and MII aim to build cross-sector collaborative networks and generate applicable scientific solutions to support sustainable aquatic resource management in Indonesia—advancing from Yogyakarta to the global stage. [DA/tr.drr]
