Enviro News Asia, Boston — Indonesia strengthened efforts to expand seafood exports to the United States during the Seafood Expo North America 2026 (SENA 2026), held in Boston from March 15 to 17, 2026.
The international exhibition, hosted at the Thomas M. Menino Convention and Exhibition Center, featured around 50 participating countries and 1,340 booths, making it one of the largest seafood trade events globally. Indonesia returned to the event after a two-year absence, showcasing a wide range of fishery products, including frozen tuna, canned tuna, sashimi-grade products, processed seafood, shrimp, crab, and snapper.
The Indonesian pavilion, initiated by the Ministry of Trade and supported by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, along with the Indonesian Embassy in the United States and industry associations, highlighted national seafood products under themes promoting quality, diversity, and sustainability.
Indonesia’s participation aims to capture a larger share of the US seafood market, which remains one of the largest globally. In 2025, Indonesia’s seafood exports to the US reached approximately US$1.99 billion, dominated by shrimp, crab, and tuna products.
Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Indroyono Soesilo emphasized that the US market offers significant opportunities due to high consumption and strict food safety standards, while Indonesia holds strong potential as a major global seafood producer.
The Indonesian pavilion was officially opened by Ambassador Indroyono, accompanied by Bara Hasibuan and Ranitya Kusumadewi. Officials used the platform to reassure US importers regarding the resolution of the Cesium-137 contamination issue that had temporarily disrupted shrimp exports in 2025.
Following the resumption of exports in December 2025, Indonesia has shipped approximately 2,400 containers of shrimp to the US as of March 2026. The US Food and Drug Administration continues to monitor compliance, with plans to conduct an on-site inspection in Indonesia in April 2026.
In parallel meetings, Indonesian officials engaged with US stakeholders, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to discuss compliance with marine protection regulations, and the National Fisheries Institute to advance joint research on blue swimming crab sustainability.
The government expects participation in SENA 2026 to drive higher seafood exports, create employment opportunities, and increase foreign exchange earnings. (*)
