Indonesia’s government-run STELINA system is the first worldwide to fully comply with the international Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) Standard
This ‘digital interoperability’ enables data sharing between trading partners using different systems. It is crucial for combating illegal practices, verifying sustainability claims, and meeting the demands of global markets.
The achievement by MMAF, who developed STELINA with full support from the Centre for Data and Information (Pusdatin), is the culmination of 4 months of hard work. This follows the government’s announcement of its intention to become the world’s first nation to align a government-led system with international standards earlier this year.
It marks a major step in supporting the country’s sustainable fisheries and aquaculture management and export competitiveness, reducing complexity and improving efficiency throughout the supply chain.
“Passing the GDST capability test is a landmark for Indonesia’s digital transformation in fisheries and aquaculture management,” said Machmud, Acting Director General of Product Competitiveness, MMAF.
“STELINA’s compliance with international standards shows that Indonesia is not only serious about sustainable seafood but also about ensuring trust, traceability, and transparency from the source to the global market.”
“Our technical team worked intensively to align STELINA’s data systems with GDST standards,” said Aulia Riza Farhan, Head of the Centre for Data and Information, MMAF. “This certification validates our system design and strengthens Indonesia’s digital infrastructure for seafood traceability.”
The capability testing process was conducted in partnership with the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), whose Global Food Traceability Centre provided technical support and validation.
“We are proud to be part of Indonesia’s journey towards this global milestone,” said Blake Harris, Managing Director, IFT Global Food Traceability Centre. “The country’s latest achievement demonstrates what can be accomplished when government, industry, and technology partners work together toward a common standard.”
The move has achieved global recognition and seafood industry support. Janti Djuari, Founder & CEO of the Indonesian Pole & Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI) and Supervisory Board Member of GDST, applauded the success:
“This is a key milestone for Indonesia. STELINA’s GDST certification strengthens the trust of buyers and gives industry players — from traditional fishers to exporters — the tools to align with global traceability standards. It is a breakthrough toward fully integrated, digitised traceability in Indonesia’s seafood value chains.”
The achievement marks the latest key step in Indonesia’s national seafood traceability journey. Building on this, in early 2026, MMAF, GDST, and AP2HI will co-host a national traceability technology roundtable, bringing together leading software and hardware providers operating in Indonesia to support their own journey towards alignment with GDST standards.
The initiative aims to strengthen STELINA’s traceability capability even further by enabling a greater flow of seafood data throughout the country. The focus will be on Indonesia’s largest seafood exports: warm-water shrimp, pole-and-line tuna, and blue swimming crab.
With markets for these products in Europe and the United States, the group is working towards application of the GDST standard to meet international demands for accurate, consistent and verifiable sustainability data.
Huw Thomas, Executive Director of GDST, praised the breakthrough achievement and highlighted the importance of the ongoing journey. “MMAF has shown remarkable leadership. STELINA is now the first government traceability platform in the world to meet GDST standards, setting a roadmap for other nations to follow. This next phase will connect Indonesia’s traceability vision with the practical systems and tools that industry uses every day. It’s about making digital traceability work for everyone – from fishers and farmers to retailers and restaurants.”
Commenting on how other nations could follow Indonesia’s example, Thomas adds, “Seafood traceability can be complex and at times daunting, which is why GDST was created. We would encourage anyone on their own traceability journey to reach out to our team. As Indonesia has shown, with ambition, guidance and collaboration, seafood traceability on a national scale is possible – opening the door for global seafood sustainability.”
