Indonesia Sets New Standards in Seafood Traceability

Indonesia has achieved a significant milestone in enhancing traceability within its seafood sector. The nation’s national seafood traceability system, STELINA (Sistem Ketertelusuran dan Logistik Ikan Nasional), is now fully aligned with the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) Standard. This marks a groundbreaking achievement as it is the first government-operated system globally to accomplish such compatibility, as announced by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) of Indonesia, further solidifying the country’s status as a leader in seafood traceability.

What is STELINA and How Does It Work?

STELINA effectively tracks seafood from its origins—fishing boats and aquaculture facilities—to the final market. It gathers comprehensive data about how and where seafood is caught or farmed, as well as critical information regarding processing, handling, and legality. The system successfully passed the GDST Capability Test, which assesses the ability of a software platform to send and receive crucial data in the appropriate format, facilitating interaction with other GDST-compliant traceability systems worldwide. This ‘digital interoperability’ is essential for tackling illegal practices, verifying sustainability claims, and fulfilling global market demands.

Commitment to Sustainable Fisheries

This achievement by MMAF, developed with support from the Centre for Data and Information (Pusdatin), comes after four months of dedicated work to align the system with international standards. This landmark represents a significant advancement in promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture management in Indonesia, while also enhancing the country’s competitiveness in exports. It aims to reduce complexities and improve the efficiency of the seafood supply chain.

Expert Commentary on the Achievement

“Passing the GDST capability test is a landmark for Indonesia’s digital transformation in fisheries and aquaculture management,” stated Machmud, Acting Director General of Product Competitiveness at MMAF. “STELINA’s compliance with international standards demonstrates Indonesia’s commitment to sustainable seafood that ensures trust, traceability, and transparency from source to market.”

Aulia Riza Farhan, Head of the Center for Data and Information at MMAF, further emphasized, “Our technical team worked intensively to align STELINA’s data systems with GDST standards. This certification validates our system design and bolsters Indonesia’s digital infrastructure for seafood traceability.”

Collaboration Highlights

The capability testing was a collaborative effort between MMAF and the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), with support from the Global Food Traceability Center for technical validation.

“We are proud to assist Indonesia in this pivotal achievement,” remarked Blake Harris, Managing Director of IFT Global Food Traceability Center. “This milestone reflects what can be accomplished through collaboration among government, industry, and technology partners.”

Industry Support and Future Endeavors

The achievement has garnered global recognition and support from the seafood industry. Janti Djuari, Founder & CEO of the Indonesian Pole & Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI) and Supervisory Board Member of GDST, lauded the accomplishment: “This is a key milestone for Indonesia. STELINA’s GDST certification reinforces buyer trust and equips industry players—from traditional fishers to exporters—with the necessary mechanisms to comply with global traceability standards.”

Looking ahead, Indonesia plans to build on this momentum. In early 2026, MMAF, GDST, and AP2HI will collaborate to host a national traceability technology roundtable, uniting leading software and hardware providers in Indonesia to enhance their alignment with GDST standards. This initiative aims to further boost STELINA’s traceability capabilities, facilitating better data flow across the seafood sector, focusing on Indonesia’s primary seafood exports: warm-water shrimp, pole-and-line tuna, and blue swimming crab.

A Message for Global Collaboration

Huw Thomas, Executive Director of GDST, praised the achievement, recognizing its significance for future endeavors: “MMAF has shown remarkable leadership. STELINA is now the first government traceability platform globally to meet GDST standards, setting a precedent for other nations. The next phase will connect Indonesia’s traceability vision with practical systems for everyday use, making digital traceability beneficial for all stakeholders.”

In contemplating the global seafood traceability landscape, Thomas noted, “Traceability can be complex, which is why GDST exists. We encourage any country on its traceability journey to engage with our team. Indonesia’s example shows that with ambition, guidance, and collaboration, national scale seafood traceability is achievable—opening pathways for global seafood sustainability.”

Image: STELINA kick-off event in Bali, June 22, 2025.