A practical, bookmarkable guide to verify Indonesian Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) participation before you place a PO. Covers FisheryProgress checks, implementer confirmation (MDPI/AP2HI), PO-to-FIP scope matching, red flags, and claim language you can use with confidence.
We’ve sat on both sides of the table. We’ve heard “Yes, we’re in a FIP” too many times, then opened FisheryProgress and found… nothing. Or a profile with zero updates for 18 months. The reality is most suppliers mean well, but the signal-to-noise can be rough. Over the last few years, we’ve built a simple workflow that lets us confirm genuine Indonesian FIP participation in 24–72 hours, so you can place POs with confidence and make claims you can defend.
Here’s the exact system.
The three pillars of credible FIP verification
- Scope match. Species, gear, and area must match the FIP’s scope on FisheryProgress. If any one of those is off, the claim doesn’t hold.
- Participant proof. The supplier’s legal entity must be listed as a participant on the FisheryProgress profile, or you need written confirmation from the FIP implementer (e.g., MDPI, AP2HI) that they are active.
- Evidence cadence. The FIP shows recent progress updates and evidence documents aligned to a workplan. Stalled or opaque FIPs are a risk.
If those three line up, you’re 80% of the way there. The remaining 20% is mapping your PO to actual FIP volumes and product forms.
Day 1–2: Research and validation you can do in an afternoon
How can I tell if a supplier is actually in an Indonesian FIP?
Start at FisheryProgress.org. Search the fishery by species and country. In Indonesia, common FIP examples include handline and pole-and-line tuna, blue swimming crab, and region-specific octopus initiatives.
Do three quick checks:
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Confirm scope. Compare your supply to the profile’s “Fishery” tab. Match species, gear, and area. In Indonesia, area is often defined by WPP (Wilayah Pengelolaan Perikanan) codes. If your catch docs say WPP 715 but the FIP scope is WPP 718, that’s a mismatch.
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Check progress status and recency. Look at the last update date, whether milestones are being reported, and whether the profile shows “on track,” “behind schedule,” “paused,” or “under review.” In the past six months, FisheryProgress has tightened evidence expectations. Profiles without timely updates sometimes show pause or review flags.
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Verify participants. Open the Participants tab. You need the exact legal entity name. If the exporter uses a trading subsidiary, ask them which entity is registered and confirm it’s listed.
Where do I check the official participant list for an Indonesia FIP?
On FisheryProgress, each FIP has a Participants section. You should see implementers, funders, and companies. If your supplier isn’t visible, ask for a written confirmation from the implementer (for tuna, AP2HI or MDPI are common; for blue swimming crab and octopus, the implementer varies by region). We prefer an email from the implementer copied to you, referencing the FisheryProgress profile URL and the supplier’s legal name.
Need a quick second set of eyes on a FisheryProgress profile or a scope match? Send us the link and your PO details and we’ll sanity-check it within a day. Contact us on whatsapp.
Week 1 follow-up: Documents that actually prove participation
What proof documents should I request to confirm FIP participation?
Ask for a tight bundle. We’ve found this combination resolves 9 out of 10 questions:
- FIP participation proof. Screenshot of the Participants tab showing your supplier’s legal name, or an implementer letter/email confirming active participation.
- Scope alignment pack. One recent landing receipt or catch certificate showing species, gear, and area (WPP) that aligns with the FIP scope. If the FIP is tuna handline in WPP 715–718, your documents should show handline, the same WPP, and the species in scope (e.g., yellowfin or bigeye as defined).
- Latest progress update. The most recent FisheryProgress progress report or a link to the “Updates” section. Make sure evidence documents are uploaded, not just promised.
- Allocation statement. A simple one-pager from the supplier stating the quantity they can allocate from the FIP supply to your PO timeframe. It should include anticipated landing sites and time window.
What counts as credible FIP participation in Indonesia?
A credible claim ties your order to a specific FIP profile, shows your company in the Participants list or provides implementer confirmation, and demonstrates recent progress against a published workplan. “We source from a FIP fleet in general” without matching scope or participants is not enough.
Does FIP participation allow me to make sustainability claims to customers?
Yes, but use precise language. You can say “Sourced from a fishery participating in a Fishery Improvement Project listed on FisheryProgress” once you’ve verified scope and participation. Avoid generic “sustainable” claims. Do not reference MSC unless the FIP has achieved that certification. If the FIP is Basic, say “participating in a basic FIP.” If Comprehensive, note that and link to the profile. When in doubt, quote the FIP name and URL.
Weeks 2–4: Test the claim against your PO and products
How do I match my species, gear, and area to the correct Indonesia FIP?
Map four things for every line item:
- Species. Use scientific names if your SKU mix includes multiple tunas or snappers.
- Gear. Handline vs pole-and-line vs longline matters. FIPs are gear-specific.
- Area. Use WPP codes from your catch docs and landing sites listed in the FIP.
- Timeframe and volume. Your PO window must be feasible against current FIP landings.
Example. Ordering 8 MT of yellowfin saku in Q2. The supplier claims AP2HI pole-and-line FIP coverage. You confirm the FisheryProgress scope includes yellowfin, PO&L gear, and WPP that match the catch docs. You get an allocation statement for 8 MT from those fleets in Q2 and a recent progress update showing landings and monitoring coverage. You can responsibly claim FIP participation in your buyer materials. We’ve done exactly this for Yellowfin Saku (Sushi Grade), Yellowfin Steak, and Bigeye Loin when the supplier is confirmed in a relevant tuna FIP.
For demersals, there are region-specific FIPs. If a product like Grouper Fillet (IQF) or Red Snapper Portion (WGGS / Fillet) isn’t covered by a live FIP in your sourcing area, we still ship with full traceability. We just won’t over-claim. That’s the line we won’t cross, and your auditors won’t either.
What are the red flags of a stalled or low-credibility FIP in Indonesia?
- No update for 12+ months. Or a “paused/under review” message without a clear path forward.
- Participants list missing key exporters who are making the claim.
- Workplan items copied year to year without evidence documents.
- Scope creep. A supplier tries to apply a tuna handline FIP to longline or to a different WPP.
- “Letter only” verification. A letter from a supplier without implementer confirmation or FisheryProgress visibility.
How to read a FIP workplan and progress updates without wasting your afternoon
- Look for milestone completion with dated evidence. Meeting minutes, observer reports, logbook coverage summaries, harvest control rule drafts. Real documents, not promises.
- Check monitoring coverage. For small-scale tuna, is there a clear plan for data collection at the landing sites you’ll source from? MDPI and AP2HI usually describe this.
- Scan for risk areas. Bycatch handling, ETP species interaction, and harvest strategies are common blockers. If your brand depends on these, push for specifics.
Who can I contact if a supplier’s FIP claim isn’t visible on FisheryProgress?
- The implementer. For tuna, AP2HI and MDPI are standard contacts. Ask them to confirm whether the supplier participates and whether an update is pending.
- FisheryProgress support. They can clarify profile status if something looks wrong or out of date.
- Your supplier’s compliance lead. Request they ask the implementer to add their legal entity to the Participants tab if they are indeed active.
Basic vs. Comprehensive FIP: what it changes for your claims and risk
- Basic FIP. Focuses on scoping and foundational improvements. Good for early engagement, but claims should be modest. Expect 12–24 months before robust evidence accumulates.
- Comprehensive FIP. Has a full workplan toward MSC performance levels and typically shows measurable progress. Better for public-facing claims and retailer programs.
We’ve learned to calibrate buyer promises to FIP type. If your customer needs stronger claims, aim for comprehensive projects and up-to-date evidence.
A due diligence checklist you can paste into your next email
- FisheryProgress URL of the exact FIP
- Screenshot of Participants tab showing supplier’s legal entity, or implementer confirmation
- Scope match proof: species, gear, area (WPP) on catch docs or landing receipts
- Latest progress update date and 1–2 key evidence docs
- Allocation statement tying FIP volume to your PO window and product forms
- Clear claim language you’ll use with your customers, reviewed by compliance
Share this list with your supplier on day one. It speeds everything up.
Common mistakes we still see (and how to avoid them)
- Assuming “Indonesia tuna FIP” covers all tunas and all gears. It doesn’t. Always match gear and WPP.
- Accepting a logo instead of a profile. If it’s not on FisheryProgress or backed by an implementer email, it’s marketing.
- Forgetting subsidiaries. The participant’s legal name must match your counterparty.
- Over-claiming. Say “sourced from a fishery in a FIP listed on FisheryProgress,” not “sustainable” or “MSC in process,” unless facts support it.
- Skipping volume mapping. Your PO must be backed by plausible landings in the timeframe. Ask for the allocation statement.
Resources and next steps
If your project needs FIP-covered tuna items, we can help you match SKUs to live Indonesian FIPs and supply accordingly. For example, we routinely align Yellowfin Saku (Sushi Grade), Yellowfin Steak, and Bigeye Loin with verified handline and pole-and-line FIPs when available. And when you need demersals like Grouper Fillet (IQF) or Red Snapper Portion (WGGS / Fillet), we provide full traceability and transparent claim language. If you want help pressure-testing a supplier’s FIP claim or mapping your PO to a FisheryProgress profile, Contact us on email and we’ll walk through it with you.
We’ve found that once you run this workflow a couple of times, it takes 2–3 hours end to end. And it saves you weeks later when a retailer, auditor, or NGO asks for proof. That’s time well spent.