Supply Chain Roundtable
Indonesian Snapper and Grouper
The Indonesian Snapper and Grouper Supply Chain Roundtable (SR) monitors and supports fishery improvement projects (FIPs) in Indonesian snapper and grouper fisheries. The SR engages with Indonesian exporters/processors and the Indonesian government on fishery policy and management, supports co-management in the artisanal fishery, and works to develop sourcing commitments and policies on sustainability issues and sourcing best practices.
The SR includes leading US importers sourcing from Indonesia. The global snapper and grouper sector comprises the wild and farmed snapper (Lutjanidae family) and grouper (Serranidae family) species. Most snapper and grouper species are coastal demersal fish, generally found in hard-bottom habitats (rocky or reef areas). Snapper and grouper are highly valuable in the U.S., European, and some Asian markets. These species are generally traded live, fresh (or chilled), or frozen.
Indonesia accounts for about 40 percent of global snapper and grouper production, with both species sold in domestic and international markets. A significant majority of Indonesian production (estimated at 80 percent) remains in-country and is sold in the Indonesian domestic market.
There are two existing national-level FIPs:
- Indonesia deepwater groundfish – dropline, longline, trap and gillnet (national-level FIP led by The Nature Conservancy)
- Indonesia snapper and grouper – bottom longline, dropline, handline, trap and gillnet (national-level FIP led by the Indonesian Demersal Association (ADI))
These FIPs only cover about 20 percent of Indonesia’s wild snapper and grouper production. To achieve long-term sustainability goals, this SR must focus its efforts on supporting improvements toward effective co-management in the snapper and grouper small-scale fishery. To do so, the SR should undergo extensive expansion to include more US-based importers, Indonesia-based suppliers, and suppliers to other Asian markets. Additionally, the SR work must be used to advance sustainability efforts in domestic markets.
Read the Snapper and Grouper Sector Sustainability Update 2021.
Participating companies
- Beaver Street Fisheries (Casey Marion, SR Industry Chair)
- Hilo Fish Company
- Netuno
- North Atlantic Seafood
- Pacific Coral Seafood
- Quirch Foods
Q1 2026 Update
- A SR-funded fisher and vessel registration event was held on January 14 near Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. SFP staff worked with members of the Indonesian Demersal Association (ADI) to get the word out and plan the event. Without formally registered fishers and/or vessels, fisheries are at risk of being considered illegal, unreported, and unregulated, and fishers are not granted legal rights, making them socially and economically vulnerable. Additionally, many nations have import provisions that require vessel-level identification information for seafood entering their supply chains. Approximately 50 fishermen participated in the event. By bringing government officials from the departments of transportation and fisheries to the village, the process was simplified for fishermen who otherwise would have had to travel great distances to several offices to submit the four official documents needed to complete registration.
- The SR met in Boston in March to discuss their proposed workplan and budget for 2026/27. The SR was informed that the SFP field team in Indonesia no longer had funding to work on snapper-grouper or to work in support of the ADI FIP. At this meeting, the SR affirmed the importance of the field team role to the SR and the FIP and agreed it was important to fund their work. The group will meet in April to formally approve their budget and workplan.
SR Strategy
SFP has advised the Supply Chain Roundtable participants of the following improvement needs in Indonesian snapper and grouper fisheries, and participants will focus their work through 2025 on the following strategic priorities:
Support the development and implementation of co-management policies at the provincial, fishery management area, and national levels.
Fishers have not been formally engaged in sustainability and fishery improvement efforts to date, even though small-scale fishers represent close to 90 percent of the sector. A majority of these fishers also remain unlicensed, and vessels are unregistered. There is an opportunity to support the small-scale fishery sector in engaging in co-management activities, such as ensuring legal fishing rights, that will lead to effective sustainability initiatives through the development of sourcing policies and commitments. See SFP’s Supporting Small-Scale Fisheries initiative for additional details on co-management.
Provide support for scientific studies in collaboration with government, research institutes, and industry.
The data required to develop fishery management plans are limited. With over 65 species in the snapper and grouper complex, with very complicated life-history traits, the status of many stocks is unknown. With this focus, the supply chain has the opportunity to support scientific efforts to analyze stock status and health through the development of data-poor methodologies, catch/production data, and life-history data, allowing for the development of appropriate harvest strategies for this multi-species fishery and sourcing specifications that will support best fishing practices and reduce the landings of juvenile fish.
Strengthen and support expansion of the Indonesian Snapper and Grouper SR.
Exports of Indonesian snapper and grouper to international markets account for only 20% of the country’s total production, with 80% remaining in-country for domestic markets. Of the 20% exported to global markets, approximately 30% is exported to the U.S., with most of the remaining exports split between China and Malaysia. Recruiting new SR participants from other importing countries would help increase the SR’s leverage.
SR Participation Requirements
- Any company interested in participating in the Indonesian Snapper and Grouper SR should contact the Indonesian Snapper and Grouper SR lead at SFP.
- Participants must review the current SR workplan and budget and sign a participation agreement annually.
- Each company is expected to make an annual contribution to participate in the Indonesian Snapper and Grouper SR. The contribution will be based on the annual budget for the activities to be conducted as part of the current SR workplan.
- Participants are encouraged to attend regular meetings (at least three virtual and one in-person).
- Participants are required to engage and collaborate with SFP and other technical experts, as requested and needed.
Join This Roundtable
To join this Supply Chain Roundtable or for more information, please contact Kerry Marhefka or call SFP at 1-808-726-2582.