Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (UNISSULA) is committed to ensuring that food sourced from aquatic ecosystems and used, provided, or sold on campus comes from legal and sustainable sources.

To support the sustainable use of aquatic resources, UNISSULA issued an institutional circular in 2025 that applies to university units, canteens, catering providers, food-service providers, vendors, service contractors, and other third parties operating within the university environment.

The policy establishes requirements for the sourcing of fish, seafood, and other food products originating from aquatic ecosystems and is intended to reduce the risk that food served or sold on campus is connected to illegal or environmentally damaging harvesting practices.

Institutional Policy on Sustainable Aquatic Food Sourcing

On 11 September 2025, UNISSULA issued Circular Letter No. 9018/J/SA/IX/2025 concerning the sustainable use of aquatic resources and the sourcing of food originating from aquatic ecosystems.

The circular states that food from aquatic ecosystems that is used, provided, or sold within UNISSULA should originate from legal and sustainable sources.

This institutional requirement applies directly to food procurement and food-service activities across the university environment.

Legal, Traceable and Sustainable Sources

The policy requires university units, canteens, catering providers, and food suppliers to use aquatic food products that are:

• legally sourced;
• traceable; and
• sustainably sourced.

These requirements are intended to strengthen accountability within the university’s food supply chain and encourage responsible purchasing of products originating from aquatic ecosystems.

Traceability is particularly important because it allows purchasing units and food-service providers to identify where aquatic products come from and to reduce the risk of sourcing from unlawful or unsustainable practices.

Prohibition of Unsustainable Fishing Practices

UNISSULA’s policy explicitly states that aquatic products must not originate from illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing practices, nor from fishing practices that damage aquatic ecosystems.

This requirement connects campus food procurement with the protection of marine and freshwater resources.

By excluding products associated with illegal or destructive harvesting, UNISSULA seeks to ensure that food consumption on campus does not contribute to practices that undermine aquatic biodiversity, fish stocks, or the long-term health of aquatic ecosystems.

Application to Canteens, Catering and Food Services

The policy applies across the university environment, including to:

• university units;
• canteens;
• catering services; and
• other food providers.

This broad application is important because food on campus may be supplied through different channels, including routine canteen operations, meetings, seminars, official events, student activities, and institutional catering.

By applying the same sustainability expectations across these channels, UNISSULA establishes a consistent approach to aquatic food sourcing.

Requirements for Vendors and Third Parties

The circular also extends the policy to service providers, vendors, and third parties supplying food or related services within the university.

This ensures that sustainability requirements are not limited to food purchased directly by university administrative units.

External suppliers are also expected to support the university’s responsible sourcing principles.

This approach helps integrate sustainability requirements into the wider campus food supply chain.

Verification of Product Origin

The policy provides for proportional verification of product origin or supplier information.

This may involve checking available information regarding the source of aquatic products, supplier identity, or supporting information relevant to legality and sustainability.

The purpose of this verification is to provide a practical mechanism for implementing the policy rather than relying solely on general commitments.

It also encourages suppliers to maintain clear and reliable information about the origin of the aquatic food products they provide.

Supporting Responsible Fisheries and Aquaculture

The policy supports more responsible consumption of aquatic food by directing demand toward products obtained through lawful and sustainable harvesting or production.

This approach can contribute to:

• reducing demand for products associated with illegal fishing;
• discouraging destructive harvesting practices;
• strengthening traceability within aquatic food supply chains;
• encouraging responsible fisheries and aquaculture;
• protecting aquatic biodiversity; and
• supporting the long-term availability of aquatic food resources.

Through responsible procurement, universities can influence not only internal consumption but also the expectations placed on suppliers and food-service providers.

Campus-Wide Implementation

UNISSULA issued the circular to university leadership and administrative units, including faculties, bureaus, institutions, technical implementation units, and other organisational units.

This institutional distribution helps ensure that the policy can be implemented across different parts of the university rather than being restricted to a single unit or activity.

The policy therefore provides an institutional framework for sustainable aquatic food sourcing throughout the campus environment.

Policy Established in 2025

Circular Letter No. 9018/J/SA/IX/2025 was dated 11 September 2025 and issued on behalf of the Rector by the Vice Rector I of UNISSULA.

The 2025 issuance demonstrates that the university formally established its sustainable aquatic food sourcing requirements within the relevant policy period.

Evidence of Implementation

1. UNISSULA issued Circular Letter No. 9018/J/SA/IX/2025 on 11 September 2025, establishing requirements for food sourced from aquatic ecosystems.
2. Aquatic food used, provided, or sold at UNISSULA is required to originate from legal and sustainable sources.
3. University units, canteens, catering providers, and food-service providers are covered by the policy, strengthening campus-wide application.
4. Aquatic products must not originate from illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing or from fishing practices that damage aquatic ecosystems.
5. The requirements also apply to service providers, vendors, and third parties, extending sustainability expectations throughout the campus food supply chain.
6. Verification of product origin or supplier information is included as an implementation mechanism, supporting legality, traceability, and sustainable sourcing.