Improved marine laws called for

JAKARTA (JP): Experts have highlighted the need for better marine resource management to ensure optimum benefits for local people and reduce exploitation by "stronger parties".

Cliff Marlessy of the Indonesian Biodiversity Foundation (KEHATI) and Gayatri Lilley of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) agreed separately that applying "reform" in marine resource management should start with better laws governing the sector.

"Several regulations must be reviewed in order to give back to the people their rights (over marine resources) and to reinstate their (traditional) roles," Marlessy said on the sidelines of a discussion on reform in the marine sector.

He cited a 1979 law on village administration which displaced the indigenous Maluku people's environmentally friendly traditional coral reef management called sasi, in which local people manage, conserve and harvest from nature.

The law gave village administrators the authority to grant concessions to private companies to exploit coral reefs, often leading to damage.

"(In this era of reform), let the people get their rights back and play their roles (in marine management)," Marlessy said.

The sentiment was seconded by WWF Indonesia in a paper prepared by its marine conservation coordinator Lilley.

"More options must be given to the country's traditional fishing community.

"They must be empowered by being given training, facilities, rights to manage marine resources that had once belonged to them under traditional laws."

Establishment of a special ministry or agency under the title "Ministry/ Agency for Marine Affairs" was recommended to minimize frequently reported conflicts of interest between existing government ministries, it said.

Among the new agency's main tasks would be to initiate policies on marine resource management and review and establish regulations and laws regarding marine management.

With sea spanning 5.8 million hectares and an estimated 6.7 million tons of annual fish production, Indonesia is the world's eighth largest fish producer.

Some analysts argue the industry provides more benefits to big companies rather than local people. "To some extent, it has even impoverished local people," Marlessy said. (aan)