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)