2023
Indonesia Signs Agreement on Biodiversity Conservation in the High Seas
(September 21st, 2023) Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York, United States (US), Wednesday (20/9/2023) local time. The agreement regulates the conservation of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction or on the high seas. The full name of the BBNJ Agreement is Agreement under UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. "I signed the BBNJ Agreement on behalf of the Indonesian government. Today is the first day the agreement is open for signing. In total for today, there are 70 countries that will sign on the first day," Foreign Minister Retno said in her statement.
Becoming the Center of World Maritime Civilization, Luhut: RI's Economy in 2025 Can Grow 6 Percent
(September 19th, 2023) The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, is optimistic that Indonesia has the potential to become the center of world maritime civilization. "We also want Indonesia to become the center of world maritime civilization, and it is very possible," Luhut said at the 'Marine Spatial Planning Services Expo', in the Central Park area, West Jakarta, Tuesday, September 19, 2023. According to him, this is a possibility that can be realized. Especially by looking at the positive achievements of current national economic growth, and predictions of a surge in the next 2025-2026.
Strengthen the Blue Economy Through Seaweed Development
(September 14th, 2023) There are three main focuses in the economy raised by Indonesia's leadership in ASEAN 2023, one of which is the need for sustainable economic growth and promoting the challenges of the blue economy. Therefore, the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework is set as one of the key economic priorities by Indonesia's ASEAN 2023 leadership.
According to the World Bank, a blue economy is the sustainable use of marine resources to support economic development, prosperity, and the preservation of marine ecosystems (KADIN Indonesia, 2023). Indonesia has enormous marine and maritime potential as an archipelago.
Will Indonesia be Sovereign at Sea in 2045?
(September 12th, 2023) The Indonesian government has a lot of homework to do if it wants to achieve the Golden Indonesia Vision 2045. The homework is especially in the marine and fisheries sector, which is expected to be one of the biggest contributors later. To realize the Vision of Golden Indonesia 2045 in the marine and fisheries sector, it is an absolute step for the Government of Indonesia to carry out improvements in the governance of the sector by starting now. Improvements are made, because there are many weaknesses and shortcomings that occur during the utilization of the marine and fisheries sector. Including, the imbalance between economic and ecological utilization. To achieve high inclusive and sustainable growth targets, a conventional, green and blue economic approach is needed in the long-term development of the future.
How Mangrove Rehabilitation Isn't Just about Planting
(September 6th, 2023) Indonesia has the largest mangrove forest in the world. This condition does not cover the possibility of the government and the private sector continuing to restore the mangrove ecosystem. Various efforts continue to be made. Since 2022, the government has made a Draft Government Regulation on the Protection and Management of Mangrove Ecosystems or RPP Mangrove. Until now, the plan continues to be consulted to the public as well as being discussed between ministries. Recently, the Indonesian Mangrove Society (IMS) and the Global Mangrove Alliance held a Mangrove Ecosystem Recovery Workshop: To Plant or Not to Plant? on August 30, 2023 offline and online. Mangrove activists were asked to provide input, especially regarding how mangrove rehabilitation efforts have been running so far.
Over 30 Percent of Indonesia's Coastal Coral Reefs are in Poor Condition
(September 5th, 2023) A study led by scientists from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has revealed the health of coral reefs in Indonesia. Coral reefs are an important part of the ecosystem in Indonesia's coastal areas. As is known, Indonesia is located almost perfectly in the middle of the Coral Triangle region. The area is famous for being home to the highest marine biodiversity in the world. Of course, this makes Indonesia a major center for marine monitoring and research, especially on coral reefs and coastal areas. But coral reefs are slow-growing creatures so measuring their health and growth at any given time can be difficult. "Therefore, the key to successful coral reef monitoring is long-term data collection," the researchers write.
On the Achievement of Cirebon Ocean ODA, Indonesia-Korea Declare New ODA Project
(August 29th, 2023) As the follow-up of economic development in coastal areas, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenko Marves) through the Deputy for Maritime Resources Coordination, Korea-Indonesia Marine Technology Cooperation Researcher Center (MTCRC) held a Final Reporting and Equipment Handover Ceremony for the Korea-Indonesia Official Development Assistance (ODA) project, "Ocean and Coastal Basic Survey and Capacity Enhancement in Cirebon Indonesia" and Joint Declaration for the Marine and Fisheries Capacity Building Project, "Establishment of Integrated Ocean Fisheries Technology Training Center and Enhancing Capability Building in Indonesia," on Tuesday (29-08-2023).
Coastal Rescue Technology, Action and Education
(August 22nd, 2023) Whether we realize it or not, the problem of plastic waste in Indonesia's coastal and marine areas is increasingly alarming. Moreover, the characteristics of Indonesia's territory, which is an archipelago with thousands of islands and 108,000 km of coastline, make coastal areas as potential areas as well as prone to serious threats, namely plastic waste.
The issue of waste in Indonesia is becoming increasingly prominent, from urban areas due to the overload of landfills to plastic waste that has accumulated in coastal areas. One of the lecturers from a well-known university in Yogyakarta wrote his opinion that the potential accumulation of waste in urban areas due to the closure of landfills is likely to also increase plastic waste in coastal areas.
18 Indonesian Marine Ecoregions and Their Characteristics
(August 21st, 2023) Indonesia has 18 marine ecoregions that reflect the diversity of its marine ecosystems. Indonesia's 18 marine ecoregions are spread from Sabang to Merauke and have their own characteristics. According to Priyanto and Setyawan in Thematic Atlas of Indonesian Marine (2013), marine ecoregions are large bodies of water that contain species, natural communities, and environmental conditions united in a geographical scope. Furthermore, Priyanto and Setyawan mentioned that marine ecoregions can be characterized by three conditions. The first condition is the existence of a real geographic area. The second condition is that an area can be called a marine ecoregion if it has distinctive natural communities and species (especially fish and corals).
Seaweed Cultivation Modeling Encourages Downstream Industry
(August 15th, 2023) The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) is collaborating with the Regional Government (Pemda) to realize the plan to build a seaweed cultivation model in Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. The synergy includes the provision of land for modeling, supporting facilities and infrastructure as well as the preparation of the seaweed downstream industry. The modeling strategy is to increase production while developing seaweed downstream in the country, by placing the local community as the main actors of cultivation activities in the upstream sector. MMAF will build cultivation infrastructure such as seaweed nurseries, tissue culture seaweed seedling production units, and provide coconut shell buoys made by MMAF as a supporting material for more environmentally friendly cultivation activities.
Maritime Development Needs to be Sustainable
(August 9th, 2023) Maritime development is a priority in the future. Indonesia is on a long road to building a maritime economy, civilization and maritime power. However, land-oriented marine governance is an obstacle in building a maritime future that does not damage the environment. By 2045, the contribution of maritime gross domestic product (GDP) to national GDP is targeted to reach 12.5 percent. The maritime GDP target has increased from 2015, which was 6.4 percent of total GDP. Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Suharso Monoarfa argued that the maritime sector plays an important role in achieving the Golden Indonesia Vision 2045, namely "A Sovereign, Advanced and Sustainable Archipelago".
MMAF Targets Sea Sedimentation GR to Run This Year, What's the Fate of Fishermen and Environmental Impact?
(August 1st, 2023) The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) is making a derivative regulation of Government Regulation No.26/2023 concerning Management of Sedimentation Results in the Sea. Socialization and public consultation have been carried out in various regions from Semarang, Makassar to Riau Islands. Recently, the socialization targeted sea sand mining entrepreneurs, academics, and stakeholders in Batam City, Riau Islands Province, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. "Today the KKP is conducting socialization and public consultation to discuss how the technical implementation of GR 26 concerning Management of Sand Sedimentation in the Sea," said KKP Spokesperson, Wahyu Mulyadi.