Indonesia Sees Increase in Fishery Resource Potential: Susi
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Kompas/Adi Sucipto
The scene at a fish auction in Palang, Tuban regency, East Java, Tuesday (8/8). Fishermen in Palang, most of whom use cantrang (kind of Danish seine net) as a catching tool, have asked the government to review the planned ban on cantrang to be implemented at the end of 2017 as they fear that it may reduce their catch. Meanwhile, other fishermen agree with the ban to protect the fish population.
BANDUNG, KOMPAS – Improvement in Indonesia’s fishery management has effectively increased the country’s fishery resource potential. This serves as a strong foundation for Indonesia’s effort to realize its vision of becoming the world’s maritime axis.
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti reaffirmed this in her general lecture at Sasana Budaya Ganesha hall, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in Bandung on Friday (18/8/2017).
“There are three pillars that will be keys to success: establishing sovereignty, sustainability and prosperity for everyone,” she said.
Thus far, the carrying-out of these three pillars have created positive results. Indonesia’s fishery resource potential reached 12.54 million tons in late 2016. This is significantly larger than that of the previous two years, which was only 6.5 million tons.
“The increase of 6 million tons in our fish stock, under the assumption that the price of fish is US$1 per kilogram, means that we have a savings of US$6 billion, or equivalent to Rp 78 trillion. This potential is clearly a huge foundation for the future of our maritime fishery,” she said.
Susi continued that the increase in stock was caused by the ban on unsustainable fishing equipment, such as cantrang, a type of Danish seine net. The ban, Susi said, had always been aimed at maintaining the sustainable breeding of local fish.
She explained that boats with cantrang and trawls could catch thousands of tons of fish in a radius of 399 kilometers, equivalent to the distance between Jakarta and Semarang, at once. This equipment catches not only mature fish but also baby and juvenile fish.
“If the practice continues, it will threaten the sustainability of fish communities. Besides, the activity also harms small-time fishermen,” Susi said.
The sinking of foreign boats used for illegal fishing and the moratorium on adding more foreign boats has also improved the country’s maritime resources.
Susi said her policies adhered to prevailing laws. The sinking of boats, for instance, is in line with Law No. 45/2009 on Fisheries, which allows the sinking of boats known to be used in illegal fishing. Meanwhile, the moratorium on foreign boats is in line with Presidential Regulation No. 44/2016 on Negative Investment List.
In the ITB general lecture, ITB rector Kadarsyah Suryadi said academicians should ensure the government could carry out its duties smoothly. He said good ministerial policies should be supported. On the other hand, misguided policies should be criticized and corrected to avoid harming people.
People empowerment
Defense Ministry inspector general Lieut. Gen. Agus Sutomo said in Ambon that he appreciated the XVI/Pattimura regional military command for supporting the optimization of regional potential through the Green Gold and Blue Gold programs.
Agus was in Ambon on Friday to attend the harvesting of Asian sea bass (Latescalcarifer), of which 1,000 eggs were sown by President Joko Widodo on February 9 this year. The eggs were sown in keramba or floating net cages produced collaboratively by the Pattimura military command and the Waiheru vocational school of fisheries.
Pattimura regional military commander Maj. Gen. Doni Monardo, Maluku governor Said Assagaff, Maluku police chief Insp. Gen. Deden Juhara, IX Ambon Naval Base commander Cmdr. Nur Singgih Prihartono and Ambon mayor Richard Louhenapessy.
Agus said a country’s defense system comprised more than just military equipment, such as soldiers and weaponry. A strong defense system comprises all aspects in life, including the economy.
The Green Gold and Blue Gold programs were established two years ago as Maj. Gen. Doni Monardo was appointed to head the Pattimura military command. The Blue Gold program improves maritime potentials and the Green Gold program land potentials.
On maritime potentials, the Pattimura military command provides assistance including floating net cages, attached net cages and motorboats. Meanwhile, assistance for optimizing land potential is being carried out through the provision of perennial plants, including nutmeg and cloves.
