Science institute opens 3 marine research posts
Science institute opens 3 marine research posts
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Institute for Science has three new oceanic research stations that will enable it to study, conserve and tap marine resources in eastern Indonesian waters.
The three stations in Bitung (North Sulawesi), Tual (Maluku) and Biak (Irian Jaya) were symbolically inaugurated from the oceanic research center in Ancol, Jakarta, by the institute's chairman Samaun Samadikun on Thursday.
Built at a combined cost of Rp 1.5 billion ($720,000), each of the three new stations has a different mission.
The Tual facility will be used primarily for the research and development of marine farming technology.
In cooperation with the Maluku provincial administration, the institute will conduct research on algae, tropical fish and coral reefs in the area. The facility will also be used to explore the potential of marine tourism in Ambon.
The Bitung research station will be used for research on marine biodiversity, not only those found in Sulawesi and its surrounding waters but also marine biodiversity found in other parts of Indonesia.
The Biak station will be used for research on pelagic fish species. In addition, in cooperation with the Agency for the Research and Application of Technology and international environmental agencies, the station will be monitoring weather changes.
In his address, Samaun said these facilities are located in eastern Indonesia because the region is home to vast marine resources which could be tapped to improve the livelihood of the local people. "The resources have not been fully exploited because we don't have the technological know-how to utilize them for national development," he said.
Ono Kurnain Sumadiharga, head of the oceanographic research center in Ambon which operates the three stations, said the institute still needs more funds and personnel to operate the three facilities. "Ideally, each center should have at least ten researchers, not just two, as they do know," he said.
The institute is planning to build three similar facilities in Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara), Riau and Bengkulu.
The Lombok facility will be used for marine biotechnology development, the one in Riau to monitor sea pollution and the Bengkulu facility for research of equatorial waves on the southern Indian Ocean, he said.
The institute also has a center for coral reef ecosystem research on the Seribu Islands off Jakarta and operates three research ships and two motor boats for its oceanic research activities.(rms)