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)