Indonesia, UK expand ties in marine development

Indonesia, UK expand ties in marine development

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian and British governments took
steps to expand ties in marine development on Tuesday through a
number of programs, including the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)
and cooperation in integrated coastal zone management.

"In addition, we have been developing cooperation in
aquaculture and on processing technology for marine products,"
chief of the Marine and Fisheries Research Agency Indroyono
Susilo said in his address in a Marine Resource workshop here.

The VMS assessment was conducted between June and December in
2000, he said.

"We are ready to implement this system this year and all
industries and parties participating in the VMS scheme, including
the United Kingdom, will be joining a team to develop the
downstream component of the VMS," Indroyono said.

Also attending the workshop was British ambassador to
Indonesia Richard Gozney.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja
said in his opening remarks that Indonesia is pushing for
aquaculture development since data indicates that the current 20
million tons of increased production in world fisheries is due to
aquaculture instead of offshore fishing.

"Currently Indonesia produces some 5.3 million tons of fish
per year, 82 percent of which are from offshore fishing. We need
to push for aquaculture to boost fish production," he said.

The minister also proposed further legislation regarding the
use of coastal areas for aquaculture.

"Aquaculture sites are also suitable for agriculture, mining,
oil drilling, surface transportation and tourism.

"Therefore one way to deal with this is to create 'demarcated
fisheries rights', which is the right to use the marine area for
certain activities. Further information must be provided and
arrangements set in place to avoid excesses, such as uncontrolled
domestic and industrial wastes," Sarwono added.

The minister also stressed the importance of health management
practices to prevent the outbreak of diseases which hit shrimps
or fish such as white spot spiral diseases and severe vibrosis.

"So far measures taken to prevent these illness have not
produced significant improvement," he said. (edt)