Federation of ASEAN Fisheries holds meeting here

Federation of ASEAN Fisheries holds meeting here

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia urged its neighbors to exploit their
abundant marine resources and preserve them at the same time.

In his remarks at the opening of the sixth ASEAN Fisheries
Federation (AFF) meeting at the State Palace yesterday, President
Soeharto said that Southeast Asian countries should take the
environment into account.

"It is precisely in the framework of preserving marine
resources and protecting small-scale fisheries that we do not
allow the use of trawlers," Soeharto said.

Some 200 participants and observers from ASEAN countries,
Vietnam, Japan as well as the United States are attending the
two-day meeting, which will end today, at the ASEAN Secretariat
building.

AFF is a non-governmental organization among ASEAN countries,
which include Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore and Thailand, dealing with the fishery and agribusiness
industries. It was established in 1989 in Bangkok.

According to Soeharto, the Indonesian government continues to
try to rehabilitate, intensify and diversify fisheries.

Present at the opening ceremony were ASEAN Secretary General
Dato' Ajit Singh, Assistant to the Philippines President for
Mindanao Paul Dominguez, some Indonesian ministers and noted
businessmen as well as a number of foreign ambassadors to
Indonesia.

Niamullah Muiz of the Indonesia Fisheries Federation, who
heads the organizing committee of the meeting, told The Jakarta
Post that the objectives of the meeting are to set up an
information center, formulate a strategic integrated marketing
and enhance cooperation among fishery companies.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah said
in his keynote address that the cooperation of ASEAN countries in
trade and marketing is important in strengthening and increasing
their bargaining position following the emergence of regional
economic blocks in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific.

"In the light of those rapid changes the need for a closer
interaction between the government and private sector gains
further significance," Sjarifudin said.

The minister, however, said that ASEAN countries have
consistently supported the outcome of the last Uruguay Round of
multilateral trade negotiations which was signed in Marakesh,
Morocco, last April.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, shrimp and fish
exports from Indonesia totaled US$1.4 billion in 1993.

J.A. Sumendap, the outgoing chairman of AFF, said that
participants of the meeting discussed their countries' reports
yesterday.

Today they are holding working group meetings to discuss
shrimp, tuna and other seafood products as well as elect a new
chairman, venue and date for the next council meeting.

An Indonesian source said that Thailand will likely hold the
next chairmanship.

Niamullah said that the role of AFF has become significant as
the only remaining abundant fishery resources are located in
Southeast Asia and Pacific regions.

He said that marine products in South China, northern Europe
and America seas have long been overfished and are polluted. (09)