TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairperson of the Association of Indonesian Marine Affairs Scholars (Iskindo) Riza Damanik hoped that Indonesia's fisheries and maritime sectors could be like those in Thailand and China. The two countries, he opined, kept strengthening the sector and focused on the unity of the fishery business ecosystem of its people.

“That's why they provide fishermen’s insurance. China also implement this, providing insurance for its fishermen and their boats,” said Riza at Boska Cafe, South Jakarta, on Monday, February 20, 2023.

According to him, Thailand and Chinese governments, as well as the Vietnamese government, even involved in the development of their fishery product brands.

“There are many models in front of us, so in our opinion, we don't need to speculate that there are no role models. After all, there are actually quite a lot of good or bad lessons that we can avoid to make fisheries more valuable,” Riza remarked.

According to him, those countries also carried out downstream activities to improve people's welfare, including efforts to maintain the environmental sustainability. Thus, the economic potential value of the fishery saw significant leaps to 50 percent or even 500 percent.

“Of course, these surges cannot just happen instantly, there need to be prerequisites met to encourage downstream,” he added.

Riza also cited a study that stated that until 2029, the elected governments of the neighboring countries at that time would keep placing the fisheries sector as the backbone of its marine economy.

“I don't think it's too late to strengthen this together. We, Iskindo, certainly open up opportunities or cooperation with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), business actors, fishing schools, and universities, to oversee better change agendas so that fisheries in Indonesia grow well,” said Riza.

MOH. KHORY ALFARIZ

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