Marine and Fisheries to Support Indonesian Economy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The World Bank and Food and Agriculture Organization's reports projected that by 2030, two third of the world's food consumption would depend on fisheries sector, implying that Asian regions, including South East Asia, South Asia, China and Japan were predicted to meet 70 percent of the world's demands on fish.

"This would benefit Indonesia because of its high potential of marine resources and fisheries. In the future, the sector would become the major supporter for domestic economy," Marine Resources and Fisheries Minister Sharif C. Sutardjo said in a workshop held at Hotel Borobudur on Monday, September 08, 2014.

According to Sharif, Indonesian waters account for 75 percent of the total region that would make the country become one of the largest suppliers for fishery products in the world.

"The key is sustainable management and domestic and foreign cooperation," Sharif said.

Sharif added that revenues from marine resources and fisheries sector would contribute to the national development. Therefore, he said, the government needs to be proactively involved in sustainable, inclusive and efficient utilization of natural resources.

Sharif said that the blue economy (blue growth) program initated by his ministry had become a model of economic development that combined sea and land development by emphasizing the utilization of technology, industry, land and sea waters. The target of the program is to increase the utilization of marine resources.

"The program can help Indonesia to realize food sustainibility and independence," Sharif said.

YOLANDA RYAN ARMINDYA