Indonesia is a maritime country, yet it has not fully become a\nmaritime economy. Amid abundant marine resources, the contribution of\nthis sector to public welfare still does not reflect its potential.<\/p>\n
Data from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries shows that\nIndonesia\u2019s fisheries production has reached more than 20 million tonnes\nper year, making it one of the largest in the world. However, this large\nproduction has not fully translated into improved welfare for\nfishermen.<\/p>\n
For years, the sea has been positioned more as a space for\nexploitation. Fish are caught as much as possible, marine products are\nexported in raw or semi-processed forms, and this cycle continues. This\napproach may yield short-term benefits, but in the long term, it leaves\nvarious problems, from declining fish stocks to value-added imbalances\nthat do not favour fishermen.<\/p>\n
Yet, amid the dynamics of the global economy that increasingly demand\nsustainability, such an approach is becoming less relevant. The world is\nshifting. Natural resources are no longer valued by how much can be\nexploited, but by how intelligently they are managed to generate\nsustainable value.<\/p>\n
The blue economy concept emerges in this context of change. However,\nthe blue economy is often misunderstood as merely an environmental\nagenda. In fact, its essence is much broader. The blue economy is a\ndevelopment strategy that integrates economic growth, ecological\nsustainability, and social welfare within a mutually reinforcing\nframework.<\/p>\n
From this perspective, the sea is no longer just a production space,\nbut a long-term economic asset. This means that maintaining the health\nof marine ecosystems is not a burden, but an investment. The Food and\nAgriculture Organization (FAO) notes that more than 90 percent of the\nworld\u2019s fish stocks have been maximally or over-exploited. This serves\nas a warning that without proper management, marine resources could face\nserious pressure.<\/p>\n
Experiences in various countries show that this approach is not\nmerely a normative concept. In regional interactions through ASEAN, it\nis evident that countries in the region are beginning to adopt more\nmeasured, data-based, and sustainability-oriented fisheries management\npolicies. This not only impacts resource conservation but also enhances\neconomic competitiveness.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the productivity-based approach developed by the\nAsian Productivity Organization demonstrates that efficiency and\nsustainability are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary,\nsustainability often becomes a prerequisite for long-term efficiency.\nResources managed well will produce more stable and predictable\noutputs.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has actually shown a direction aligned with blue economy\nprinciples. The marine and fisheries sector contributes around 2.6\npercent to the national Gross Domestic Product, a figure that indicates\ngreat potential but can still be improved. More measured fisheries\nmanagement policies, efforts to control fish catching, and encouragement\nof more sustainable practices reflect a paradigm shift. This approach is\nimportant not only for preserving marine ecosystems but also for\nensuring that economic benefits can be felt more equitably.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, implementation challenges cannot be ignored. The blue\neconomy requires more than just policies on paper. It demands\nconsistency in execution, strengthened governance, and effective\ncross-sector coordination. In addition, the involvement of business\nactors and coastal communities is a key factor in ensuring that this\ntransformation truly takes place.<\/p>\n
Another equally important aspect is the change in mindset. So far,\nsustainability has often been viewed as a constraint on growth. However,\nin the context of the blue economy, sustainability is actually the\nfoundation of that growth itself. Without sustainability, economic\ngrowth in the marine sector will be temporary and vulnerable to\ncrises.<\/p>\n
In this context, the blue economy can become one of Indonesia\u2019s new\ngrowth engines. With its vast marine resource potential, strategic\ngeographical position, and a continuously growing global market,\nIndonesia has the opportunity to become a major player in the world\u2019s\nmaritime economy. However, this opportunity can only be utilised if\nmanaged with the right approach.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, what is needed is not just increased production, but\nimproved management quality. Not just expansion, but also efficiency.\nAnd not just economic growth, but inclusive and sustainable growth.<\/p>\n
In the end, the blue economy is not a choice, but a necessity. Amid\npressures on natural resources and increasingly complex global market\ndemands, this approach becomes a middle path that can bridge economic\ninterests and sustainability. The question is no longer whether\nIndonesia needs to adopt the blue economy, but how quickly and\nconsistently we can implement it.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/blue-economy-indonesias-new-growth-engine-1776246657", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }