Saving our seas<\/p>\n
As travelers know, Indonesia is a land of immense dimensions.
\nWith 17,500 islands, Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago
\nto form a single nation-state. Some 6.5 million square
\nkilometers, or three-quarters of the country's total territory,
\nis water. Considering this, the establishment by President
\nSoeharto last week of the National Maritime Council is timely.<\/p>\n
Since the advent of modern fishing and mining techniques
\nearlier during this century, the seas have become not only
\nstrategic passageways for ships, friendly and hostile, and
\napproaches to the natural riches which the Indonesian islands
\noffer. They have become sources of valuable resources that have
\nlured Indonesians and foreigners alike. Although the President
\nremarked that in a country such as Indonesia, the development of
\nthe maritime sector and the country's national security go hand
\nin hand, it is the economic aspect which is apparently foremost
\non the President's mind.<\/p>\n
The fact, however, is that at this stage of its development,
\nIndonesia lacks the means to effectively control the seas and
\nstraits which, under its national doctrine, are regarded as
\nintegral parts of the country's national territory but which many
\nforeign powers still regard as international waters. This perhaps
\nexplains the persistence of foreign fishermen in operating in
\nIndonesian waters. Reports of foreign fishing boats being seized
\nby Indonesian navy patrols appear with regularity in the
\nnewspapers. In the past two months alone, 200 foreign fishing
\nvessels were seized for illegal fishing in Indonesian waters.<\/p>\n
The government's concern about such foreign intrusions is
\nappropriate and understandable. Indonesia's territorial seas have
\nthe potential of yielding close to seven million tons of fish a
\nyear, but the national fishing fleet is capable of processing
\nonly 1.9 million tons. An even more appalling situation prevails
\nin the domestic sea freight business, where close to 98 percent
\nof the cargo is carried from island to island by foreign ships.
\nIn total, the maritime sector contributes about 15 percent of the
\nnational gross domestic product.<\/p>\n
Important as this particular aspect may be, however, it is but
\none among a wide range of challenges in our maritime sector that
\nmust be faced and resolved. Other obstacles abound, not the least
\nof which, though less spectacular, is stemming the destruction
\nthat is taking place in and around our seas. Reports, for
\nexample, have revealed around 70 percent of our 81,000 kilometers
\nof coastline has been damaged. The widespread and continuing
\ndestruction of mangrove stands that protect our shores and
\nprovide a breeding ground for various fish species remains a
\nproblem that has to be tackled. The same is true for our coral
\nreefs.<\/p>\n
The composition of the Maritime Council and tasks that it has
\nbeen given -- among other things, to advise the President and
\nformulate policies concerning maritime development -- is a
\nwelcome sign that the scope of the problem is well understood by
\nthe government. We hope, however, that concrete policies can be
\ndrawn up and actual steps taken in time to curb and eventually
\nhalt the destruction of our maritime resources. Otherwise, it may
\ntake generations to restore what ignorance and greed have
\ndamaged.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/saving-our-seas-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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