Improved marine laws called for<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Experts have highlighted the need for better
\nmarine resource management to ensure optimum benefits for local
\npeople and reduce exploitation by \"stronger parties\".<\/p>\n
Cliff Marlessy of the Indonesian Biodiversity Foundation
\n(KEHATI) and Gayatri Lilley of the World Wide Fund for Nature
\n(WWF) agreed separately that applying \"reform\" in marine resource
\nmanagement should start with better laws governing the sector.<\/p>\n
\"Several regulations must be reviewed in order to give back to
\nthe people their rights (over marine resources) and to reinstate
\ntheir (traditional) roles,\" Marlessy said on the sidelines of a
\ndiscussion on reform in the marine sector.<\/p>\n
He cited a 1979 law on village administration which displaced
\nthe indigenous Maluku people's environmentally friendly
\ntraditional coral reef management called sasi, in which local
\npeople manage, conserve and harvest from nature.<\/p>\n
The law gave village administrators the authority to grant
\nconcessions to private companies to exploit coral reefs, often
\nleading to damage.<\/p>\n
\"(In this era of reform), let the people get their rights back
\nand play their roles (in marine management),\" Marlessy said.<\/p>\n
The sentiment was seconded by WWF Indonesia in a paper
\nprepared by its marine conservation coordinator Lilley.<\/p>\n
\"More options must be given to the country's traditional
\nfishing community.<\/p>\n
\"They must be empowered by being given training, facilities,
\nrights to manage marine resources that had once belonged to them
\nunder traditional laws.\"<\/p>\n
Establishment of a special ministry or agency under the title
\n\"Ministry\/ Agency for Marine Affairs\" was recommended to minimize
\nfrequently reported conflicts of interest between existing
\ngovernment ministries, it said.<\/p>\n
Among the new agency's main tasks would be to initiate
\npolicies on marine resource management and review and establish
\nregulations and laws regarding marine management.<\/p>\n
With sea spanning 5.8 million hectares and an estimated 6.7
\nmillion tons of annual fish production, Indonesia is the world's
\neighth largest fish producer.<\/p>\n
Some analysts argue the industry provides more benefits to big
\ncompanies rather than local people. \"To some extent, it has even
\nimpoverished local people,\" Marlessy said. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/improved-marine-laws-called-for-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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