Minister Susi Receives `Leader for a Living Planet` Award

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thanks to her persistent fight against illegal fishing and in protecting marine ecosystems, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti was awarded by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) with Leaders for a Living Planet award.

The ceremony took place at the headquarters of the WWF in Washington, DC, USA, on Friday afternoon, September 16, 2016 local time.

This award is given to Susi after WWF monitored her performance for nearly two years.

"We have decided to award Minister Susi who has contributed immensely significant for nature conservation and sustainable development," said WWF International President Yolanda Kakabadse told Tempo.

"It is also our appreciation for her leadership which focuses on environmental concern in order to be an inspiration to everyone," he added.

Meanwhile, Susi said she was glad because her campaign in the marine and fisheries sector is "not alone".

She admitted that she had been criticized by environmental activists for actions in sinking more than 200 foreign vessels and illegal fishing is considered to be polluting the marine biota.

"But eventually they understood that the firmness of my actions and my friends in the Illegal Fishing Task Force was actually to maintain the sustainability of marine and fishery," she said.

WAHYU MURYADI