Saturday, June 18, 2011

INDONESIA'S FUTURE LIES IN OCEANS by Fardah

       Jakarta, June 18, 2011 (ANTARA) - Indonesia, one of the world`s largest maritime countries with about 5.8 million square kilometers of marine territory, recently observed World Oceans Day by reminding the people of the important role of oceans for the nation`s future.
       The world`s oceans which account for about 70 percent of the Earth`s surface are essential to food security and the health and survival of all life, power the climate and are a critical part of the biosphere.
       The official designation of World Oceans Day (WOD), which falls on June 8, is an opportunity to promote global awareness of the current ocean-related challenges such as depleted fishery resources, the impacts of climate change, deterioration of the marine environment, and maritime safety and security problem
       United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his message for World Oceans Day 2011 theme "Our oceans: greening our future", said "All activities and policies related to oceans and the marine environment need to acknowledge and incorporate the three pillars of sustainable development: environmental, social and economic. Only then can we achieve the development objectives set by the international community."
      He also urged governments and all sectors of society to embrace the individual and collective responsibility to protect the marine environment and manage its resources in a sustainable manner for present and future generations.
      Indonesia has around 92,000 km-long beach and coastal areas, second after Canada. It is the biggest archipelagic country in the world, with around 70% its territory is waters and it has 17,480 islands.
       "Local governments must have an awareness of the importance of developing the oceans for the future of the nation," Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said when commemorating the World Ocean Day here recently.
      In daily activities, the community enjoys the marine services, such as for transportation, consumption, and recreation, he added.
      Defense Minister Poernomo Yusgiantoro, who joined Fadel in the WOD commemoration, said small islands in border regions have double functions, namely as marine security and the development of economic potential.
      As many as 12 islands in border regions such as Nipah Island, Miangas Island, and Berhala Island are given priority for the double functions.
      Poernomo also pointed out the very important role of oceans as trading routes because 90 percent of goods in the world is transprted over oceans.
      "Therefore, marine security is important to support economic activities in these regions," he said, adding that the country has placed its troops at 12 of 92 outer islands of its border areas.
      Despite the huge marine potentials, however, Indonesia has so far been able to utilize only eight percent of its marine potentials so there should be strong efforts to encourage their greater use, according to Minister Fadel Muhammad.
      The country`s marine and fishery resource potentials are still wide open for development through aquaculture, marine tourism, mining, maritime transportation, and development of marine services.
      The contribution of the fishery sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010 reached 3.1 percent. The ministry had set itself the target of increasing the fisheries sector`s contribution to GDP from 3.1 percent to 3.5 percent in 2011.
      Fishery exports in 2010 ware estimated to reach a total value of 2.79 billion US dollars, up from 2.46 billion US dollars in 2009.

Chairman of Indonesian Fishery Product Processing and Marketing Association Thomas Darmawan recently suggested that the government support traditional fishermen by giving them a subsidy to buy more sophisticated fishing tools.


For example, he said, many traditional fishermen in Indonesia did not have cooling devices to preserve their catches` freshness during transportation.


"Our fishermen also need capacity building trainings such as how to operate sophisticated fishing tools or learn other useful fishing skills," he said.


As part of the capacity building plan, Fadel had asked higher education institutes to create reliable and capable human resources for the maritime and fishery sector in Indonesia.


"The Higher Education Cooperation Forum is of strategic significance in the development of maritime-and-fishery-related education and national development in the maritime and fishery sector," Fadel said after meeting with Vice President Boediono at the latter`s office last May 2011.


The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry had also set aside Rp212 billion, or 33 percent of its total budget, to improve the welfare of fishermen through several empowerment programs.


Minister Fadel said that the programs included housing for fishermen, villagers` fish pond empowerment, fishermen`s groups improvement and procurement of boats for fishermen through regional governments.


He will propose a budget of Rp1.2 trillion especially for improving the welfare of fishermen in 2012.


The ministry plans to hold a forum and expo themed Indonesian Blue Revolution or IBREF 2011. Around 60 marine industries will take part in the expo to be held from October 6-9, 2011 at the Jakarta Convention Center.


IBREF 2011 is a forum to promote a change in the developmental paradigm from land- to sea-oriented, and balance between land and marine development, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said recently when launching the forum and expo.


"The event is also a means to promote the wealth of Indonesia`s marine resources and the beauty of its submarine environment. It will show Indonesia as a strong and great maritime nation," the minister said.


Indonesia organized the first World Ocean Conference (WOC) in Manado, North Sulawesi, bringing together experts and officials from over 70 countries, in May 2009. ***4***


(f001/A/HAJM/23:40/a014)

(T.F001/A/F001/A/A014) 19-06-2011 07:17:12

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