Marine science research to be assisted by Germany

Marine science research to be assisted by Germany

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Germany and Indonesia are set
to expand on their cooperation in marine science research,
capacity building and education in a bid to set a five to 10 year
action plan for the development of Indonesia's maritime affairs.

"It's a shame that Indonesia, claiming to be a maritime
country with an 80,000 kilometers of shoreline, is lagging far
behind in marine development," Minister of National Education
Yahya Muhaimin said after addressing a German-Indonesian marine
seminar at Jendral Soedirman University here on Monday.

Yahya said that no less than 20,000 seamen are currently
trying to obtain seafaring licenses.

"Among the requirements to obtain a license is the need to
pass a sea simulator test and that kind of simulator is so far
only possessed by the Indonesian Navy. We do not have enough
funds to buy such a device, so we are in the process of
negotiating for aid from Germany. Hopefully the device can be
based at Diponegoro University (Semarang)," Yahya said.

The simulator costs approximately US$300,000.

The seminar was highlighted by a trip to Segara Anakan in the
Nusa Kambangan islands, home the last tropical forest in Java.

The party included German Ambassador to Indonesia Gerhard
Fulda, Jendral Soedirman University rector Rubijanto Misman,
Director of Deutcsher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) Renate
Schoenhagen, head of the Research Agency of the Ministry of
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Indroyono Soesilo and Director of
the Center for Tropical Marine Ecology in Bremen Venogopalan
Ittekkot.

Germany is set to provide another Dm3.7 million (about US$173
million) assistance in various marine programs, in addition to
the previous Dm1.3 million given last year, Indroyono said.

"We really hope scientists can actively study the Segara
Anakan area and find ways to solve the problems relating to the
ecosystem's preservation," ambassador Fulda said during the trip
on Tuesday.

Rector Rubiyanto further revealed that, based on recent
observations, every year an average of one million cubic meters
of mud accumulates in the Segara Anakan area from the rivers of
Citandui and Cimeneng.

"The mud sedimentation is very high in this area, and can
reach up to 1.7 meters," he said.

Some 1,200 hectares of the area's 8,900 hectares of mangrove
forests are also reported to be in a deteriorating condition.

"So far only 622 hectares of mangrove forest have been under
rehabilitation," he added.

Sedimentation in the Segara Anakan area has affected the lives
of no less than 13,000 residents -- mostly fishermen -- living in
the three villages of Laces, Ujungalang and Ujunggagah. (edt)