NTB prepares data-based fisheries management
Mataram (ANTARA) - The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Government is preparing a transformation of fisheries industry governance through data-based policies as a foundation for sustainable marine resource management.
NTB Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal emphasised that every policy taken must be based on accurate data rather than mere assumptions, in order to increase the welfare of fishermen while preserving marine resource sustainability.
“We do not want to create policies based on feelings. We want to build evidence-based policies, so that every decision truly arises from valid data and is capable of addressing community issues,” he stated during the annual meeting of the Joint Fisheries Management Committee in Matram on Tuesday.
West Nusa Tenggara is flanked by two Fisheries Management Areas (WPP), covering WPP 573 in the Indian Ocean and WPP 713 in the Flores Sea, which gives the province immense potential in the fisheries sector.
Iqbal stated that this vast potential must be supported by an accurate data system to ensure that management can proceed sustainably.
According to him, data limitations remain a fundamental issue in formulating marine and fisheries sector policies, which has prevented several programmes from delivering optimal impacts to the community, particularly to fishermen.
The NTB government is inviting all parties, including universities, non-governmental organisations, research institutions, and business actors, to participate in building an integrated and high-quality fisheries data system.
“A collaborative mechanism capable of producing quality data is required as a foundation for policymaking,” said Iqbal.
Furthermore, he noted that sustainable fisheries management must also be supported by a healthy business ecosystem. The entire business chain, from fishermen and processing industries to marketing, needs to be interconnected so that economic benefits can be distributed evenly.
Reflecting on practices in various developed nations, Iqbal added that the fisheries sector has been positioned as part of national resilience, making the industry worthy of government support and protection.
“The success of the fisheries sector can only be achieved if the entire business chain strengthens and grows together,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the NTB Marine and Fisheries Office, Muslim, stated that NTB’s position within two national fisheries management areas serves as strategic capital for developing globally competitive fishery commodities.
The NTB government is committed to resolving fishermen’s administrative issues, specifically the acceleration of E-Pas Kecil (Small Vessel Permit) issuance, which is a requirement for accessing subsidised fuel.
The NTB Marine and Fisheries Office noted that there are currently more than 60,000 fishermen, so administrative resolutions are being carried out in coordination with district and city governments to ensure that fishermen no longer have to handle these burdens individually.
“The future of the fisheries sector is determined not only by the abundance of marine resources but also by the ability to present appropriate, data-driven policies supported by the collaboration of all stakeholders,” concluded Muslim.