Megawati to open new fishing port

Megawati to open new fishing port

JAKARTA (JP): The city is set to have its first ocean fishing
port of Samudera Jakarta in Muara Baru, North Jakarta, slated to
be officiated by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Friday.

"The fishing port will become the service center for all
fishing and related industrial activities on the Northern Coast
of Java as well as other international-scope activities,"
Minister of Maritime affairs and Fisheries Sarwono Kusumaatmadja
told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The much-awaited Muara Baru port project began in 1980 in four
phases, including the reclamation of a 29-hectare area in Muara
Baru, the setting up of sea walls as wave breakers and a
navigation system.

The project cost Japanese Yen 12.6 billion made possible
through a loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation
(JBIC) as well as other foreign funds and from government
assisted funds.

The port is estimated to have absorbed some 20,000 workers
this year and no less than 5,000 fishermen are conducting
fishing-related activities here.

Among the facilities available in the port are a service
center for industry, post fishing processing center, vessel
repair yard, restaurants and other tourist attractions.

"We are also planning to integrate the activities of the port
with the existing Sunda Kelapa port which has been in existence
since 1630. And the Jakarta administration can further work on
developing Sunda Kelapa as a tourism site," the minister said.

The port is complete with office buildings, proper drainage
system, fish auction house, cold storage, ice factory, clean
water pipelines and supply, easy road access and other supporting
facilities.

"With the completion of the port we can also work out a scheme
to develop cooperatives and supporting activities for the
fishermen in a bid to improve their welfare," Sarwono said.

Another ongoing fishing port project is set in Kendari the
capital of Southeast Sulawesi.

Sarwono further said that the fishing community living in
Muara Baru area has set up a community watch system to avoid
possible sea encroachment by foreign trawlers or vessels
conducting illegal fishing.

"The community will also work together with the existing
officers to prevent other kinds of natural resources misuse
ranging from dynamite fishing to stealing fish," he added.

At the same time the local community can gain greater
advantage from the sea management through preservation and proper
exploitation, Sarwono added.

"The local communities will be the ones who are actively
guarding their area and creating a conducive situation for
fishing development and hopefully they will be able to improve
their economic welfare," he said. (edt)