Integral system needed to secure sea

Integral system needed to secure sea

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia badly needs an integrated sea security
system to maintain its sovereignty over its sea territory and
curb fish theft, Minister of Maritime and Fishery Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja said on Wednesday.

Speaking after a meeting with Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, Sarwono said the security system involved the use
of satellite and radio equipment as well as people's
participation.

"The integrated system will save money we have had to spend on
sea patrols and other conventional security measures, which are
costly," Sarwono said, adding that the integrated system will
also ease the burden of the water police.

Such a system commonly applies in archipelagic countries, even
in Myanmar, he said.

Initial investment for the integrated system could cost the
country US$4.5 billion, but Sarwono said it would pay off because
Indonesia would be able to save $4 billion annually which
resulted from fish theft.

Later in the evening, Megawati attended the first anniversary
of Nusantara Day organized by the Maritime and Fisheries Council
(DKP), which is also chaired by Sarwono.

The celebration was marked with the launching of a book titled
"Where are our sea boundaries?" published by the council. It
contains both national and international regulations on sea
exploration. The book further details how the share of power in
maritime issues will be arranged between the central government
and local governments as part of the implementation of the
regional autonomy law in January.

"It has taken a while to launched the concept of archipelagic
state which only began last year, whereas it has been declared 43
years ago by (former prime minister) Djuanda. But better late
than never," Sarwono said.

Sea and water in size make up about 2.82 million square meters
or two thirds of the country's territory.

Separately, a group of activists and businessmen in sea-
related industries have established the Indonesian Forum for
Marine Economy (Forek) with a pledge to develop an
environmentally friendly industry in the country.

"Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world,
with some 17,508 islands, and it is a shame that we have never
really taken care of them, in terms of environment and economic
points of view," Emil Salim said in a statement, a copy of which
was made available to The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

The open forum consists of scientists, activists, domestic and
foreign investors, cooperatives, sea-related companies and
individuals who have an interest in maritime affairs.

Emil estimated a total of 2.6 million tons of fish can be
utilized every year. Other resources such as fish ponds on the
beach can still be expanded to around 500,000 hectares, excluding
the development of see weeds and corals, bio-technology, oil,
ocean thermal energy conversion, marine tourism and sea
transportation.

According to Director General for Small Islands and Management
Rokhmin Dohuri, until 1997 Indonesia had only exploited 59
percent of its sea resources.

Emil said the forum will be trying to bring fishery and
maritime industry technology closer to people and develop a
community-based fish industry on a big scale.

Maritime development also can help decrease the high
unemployment figure which is about 34 million nationwide, he
said. (edt)