lautnusantara.com The fisheries sector is a key pillar of the national economy in many maritime countries, including Indonesia. Fisheries exports not only generate foreign exchange but also employ a large number of workers. In the past, the biggest challenge to international trade was import tariffs. However, with the establishment of global trade agreements, tariff barriers have tended to decrease.

Now, the main challenge has shifted to a more complex and often hidden realm: Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and Protectionist Measures. NTBs encompass all domestic regulations, standards, and requirements that indirectly restrict or delay the entry of imported products, including fish and fishery products. Failure to comply with these NTBs can result in billions of dollars in losses, product rejections, and reputational damage in the global market.

A. Types of Non-Tariff "Walls"

1. Food Sanitation and Safety Standards (SPS)
These are the most stringent barriers, particularly imposed by developed markets such as the European Union (EU) and the United States (US). This standard ensures that imported fish are safe for consumption.

• Focus: Strict requirements regarding drug residues (antibiotics) in farmed shrimp, heavy metal contamination, and processing plant hygiene standards.
• Impact: Products that do not meet tolerance limits will be rejected or recalled, damaging the exporter's credibility.

2. Technical, Quality, and Labeling Standards (TBT)
These barriers relate to how products are manufactured, packaged, and labeled. This includes fish size requirements, fillet specifications, and the packaging materials used.

• Focus: The need for international quality certification such as HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), ISO, or BRC (British Retail Consortium).

3. Environmental Regulation and Traceability
Sustainability issues have become a powerful weapon of protectionism. Importing countries now demand proof that the fish they purchase was caught or farmed responsibly.

• Focus: Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. The US, through the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), requires product traceability from vessel to port. Failure to demonstrate that products are free from IUU fishing can trigger an import ban.
• Focus: Demand for ecolabel certification such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).

B. Adaptive Solutions and Strengthening Strategies

Addressing NTBs requires investment, collaboration, and a shift in mindset from simply "selling" to "selling with assurance."

1. Strengthening Quality Upstream
The key to smooth exports lies in the sourcing of raw materials. Exporters must invest in:

• Responsible Aquaculture: Implementing good aquaculture practices (BAPs) and strictly controlling the use of antibiotics and chemicals.
• Improving Vessel and Handling: Ensuring that fish are handled on board vessels or farms according to cold chain standards to maintain freshness and minimize initial contamination.

2. Adoption of Technology and Digitalization of Traceability
Technology is the most effective solution to address traceability demands.

• Digital Traceability System: Using digital platforms, even Blockchain technology, to record every stage of a product—from the capture location (date, time, coordinates) to final packaging. This provides irrefutable evidence to international buyers.
• Massive Certification: Governments and associations need to encourage businesses to immediately adopt and pass international quality certifications (HACCP, ISO, BAP/ASC).

3. Proactive Trade Diplomacy
The government plays a crucial role in combating protectionism.

• Standards Harmonization: Actively negotiating bilaterally and multilaterally (through the WTO) to harmonize SPS and TBT standards to avoid burdening national exporters.
• FTA Utilization: Maximizing existing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to gain easier market access and minimize non-tariff discrimination.

4. Market Diversification and Product Downstreaming
This strategy reduces the risk of over-reliance on a single, protective market.

• Explore New Markets: Begin exploring fast-growing, non-traditional markets, such as South Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
• Focus on Downstreaming: Stop selling raw or frozen whole fish. Transform raw materials into high-value-added products, such as ready-to-cook fillets or processed products. Processed products tend to be more vulnerable to anti-dumping subsidies from importing countries.

Non-Tariff Barriers and Protectionism are permanent challenges that will continue to grow as global consumers become more aware of health and environmental issues. Addressing them is no longer an option, but a necessity.

The smoothness of future fisheries exports depends heavily on the synergy between the government (leading diplomacy and facilitation), businesses (investing in quality and technology), and fishermen/fish farmers (implementing sustainable practices). With rapid adaptation and strict compliance, national fisheries products will continue to swim freely in the ocean of global trade.

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