Antara News·Indonesia·Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 08:38 AM UTC

Indonesia, Portugal agree to recognize fishing crew certificates

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Shofi Ayudiana, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Portugal have agreed to mutually recognize fishing vessel crew competency certificates, aiming to expand maritime employment opportunities and facilitate workforce mobility in line with international standards.

The agreement was signed during the Indonesia-Europe Business Forum (IEBF) 2026 in Portugal earlier this month, as Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries seeks to improve Indonesian fishing crew members' access to overseas jobs and competitiveness in the global labor market.

Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said in a statement issued in Jakarta on Wednesday that recognition of professional certifications needed to be expanded so Indonesian seafarers' qualifications could be accepted by partner countries.

"This effort must continue to adhere to standards for competency, safety and crew protection," Trenggono said.

The agreement, titled Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of the Personnel Certification of Fishing Vessels Between the Portuguese Republic and the Republic of Indonesia, covers competency and proficiency certificates issued by the authorized agencies of both countries.

The recognition framework follows the 1995 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F).

Head of the Agency for Marine and Fisheries Human Resources Development and Extension I Nyoman Radiarta said the recognition and endorsement mechanism would allow fishing vessel crew members from both countries to work aboard vessels flying the other country's flag, subject to their qualifications and applicable regulations.

Eligible personnel include skippers, deck officers, engineers and radio operators. However, mutual recognition of certificates does not automatically waive other requirements for employment in the destination country.

Indonesia is also seeking to expand certification recognition through an updated mutual recognition agreement (MRA) with Spain, which was signed in 2023.

The update is intended to align certification recognition with evolving international standards, including amendments to the STCW-F adopted in 2024 that took effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

Indonesia has proposed extending the agreement with Spain beyond operational-level crew, or ratings, to include officers such as skippers and marine engineers.

The proposal covers Level I, II and III certificates for fishing vessel deck officers (ANKAPIN) and fishing vessel engineering officers (ATKAPIN), as well as Basic Safety Training Fisheries Class I (BSTF-I) certificates and fishing seafarer identity books as supporting verification documents.

The ministry has also proposed transitional arrangements to protect the continuity of employment for crew members already working while the agreement is being updated.

Both countries are exploring the establishment of a joint working group to address technical issues and monitor implementation.

During related activities in Spain, the ministry also held discussions with local fishing industry association CEPESCA on workforce demand, hard-to-fill positions and opportunities to place Indonesian fishing crew members in jobs matching their skills and qualifications.

The ministry said broader recognition of fishing crew certifications could strengthen international acceptance of Indonesian seafarers' qualifications and expand overseas employment opportunities while maintaining safety and crew protection standards.

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