Antara News, Monday, May 17, 2010 20:58 WIB
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Australia have agreed to cooperate in developing tuna farming in Bali province, Indonesian Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said.
"Australia has agreed to provide US$10 million in funds to develop tuna farming including offshore tuna farming in Indonesia," Fadel said after a meeting between the Indonesian Maritime Council and the House of Representatives` Commission IV here on Monday.
The project would be carried out in Bali, he said.
The Australian funds would also be used for marine researches in Indonesia, he said.
He said there had been proposal to take advantage of around 360 used oil rigs in the Indonesian waters for fish farming.
"I think it is good idea to take advantage of the used oil rigs for deep sea fish farming or offshore port. But we still have to study the possibility of using them," he said.He said his office would discuss the matter with relevant agencies.
"The cost of dismantling the used oil rigs is large or about the same as the cost of producing new oil rigs. I will also report the possibility of using the used oil rigs for fish farming to the President," he said.
