Balita.ph, August 26, 2010 11:23 am
PADANG, Aug. 26 – The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is to help the Indonesian government establish 700,000 hectares of new marine conservation areas that will kept well managed, a fisheries official said.
"The target is part of a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and WWF to improve the sustainable management of fishery resources," Soen`an H. Poernomo, head of the KKP`s data, statistics, and information division, said in a press release on Wednesday.
Soen`an quoted KKP Secretary General M. Syamsul Maarif as saying WWF was also encouraging reform in the fisheries sector by initiating sustainable fisheries projects, especially for tuna, grouper, snapper, and shrimp cultivation.
For the fishery production sector, WWF would provide guidance on best fishery management practices with the final goal of obtaining an ecological certificate from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
"The cooperation between the two institutions is intended to manage marine and fisheries resources inside and outside the conservation areas in sustainable and responsible ways and to strengthen KKP`s efforts in implementing its policy on food security and food sustainability in fishery products," he said.
The cooperation would cover efforts to boost environmentally friendly and responsible fishery practices by developing best management practices, fishery policy research, and education and campaigns regarding conservation of endangered marine ecosystems and marine wildlife.
"The cooperation will last four years and be evaluated annually. Every project under the cooperation will be implemented based on a special legal accord and must be compatible with technical needs," he added Soen`an said KKP had adopted the vision of making Indonesia the biggest fish producing country in the world by 2015.
WWF with its capacity as a nature conservation institution would also help the government through joint research programs and n training of its personnel in public campaign management and implementing plans.
The marine and fishery sector contribute 3.12 percent of Indonesia`s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2009 or up from 2.75 percent in 2008.
Indonesia`s income from fishery product exports reached 2.4 billion US dollars in 2009 and its fisheries provide jobs for 6.43 million people in 2008.
In recent years, cultivated fish production had grown more significantly than catch fish production.
Cultivated fisheries are considered strategic because they will be KKP`s mainstay in maintaining the availability of affordable protein. (PNA/Antara)
