Australia, Indonesia Strengthen Fisheries Trade Ties

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Australia and Indonesia are deepening their fisheries trade relationship through high-level talks, focusing on sustainable management and economic cooperation to bolster the $18.35 billion two-way trade partnership.

Australia and Indonesia are reinforcing their long-standing fisheries trade relationship, valued at $18.35 billion in two-way trade in 2021-22, as reported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). On July 31, 2025, Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, met with Indonesia’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, in Jakarta to discuss enhanced cooperation. The talks, following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s May visit to Indonesia, emphasized sustainable fisheries management and combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, a persistent challenge in the Arafura and Timor seas. The discussions align with the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), which facilitates duty-free access for 99% of Australian goods, per DFAT.

The bilateral relationship, rooted in the 1992 Fisheries Cooperation Agreement, supports information exchange, shared stock management, and trade promotion. The Working Group on Marine Affairs and Fisheries, established in 2001, drives collaboration, with a focus on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Box, an area in the Australian Fishing Zone where Indonesian traditional fishers operate. Austrade’s planned food and agriculture mission to Indonesia later this year aims to foster business connections, aligning with the Australian Government’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. “Strengthening fisheries cooperation is vital for economic stability and food security,” Collins stated, according to Mirage News. The partnership also addresses IUU fishing through joint initiatives, including educational workshops by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), engaging over 450 Indonesian fishers since 2022.

Economic benefits are significant, with Indonesia as Australia’s 14th largest trading partner. The IA-CEPA supports Australian exports like live cattle and seafood, while Indonesia’s growing economy, projected to be the world’s fifth-largest by 2030, offers opportunities for Australian businesses. However, compliance issues, such as Indonesia’s 2018 suspension of meatmeal trade over traceability concerns, highlight the need for rigorous standards. The recent reopening of this $100 million market, reported by Queensland Country Life, underscores the economic stakes. These efforts ensure a competitive edge for Australian producers while promoting sustainable practices in a vital regional industry.