Indonesia Aims to Expand Marine Protection Area to 30 Percent by 2045

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs is committed to expanding marine conservation areas in the country. Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono is targeting Indonesia's marine conservation areas to reach 30 percent of Indonesia's total marine area by 2045.

"The marine protection area is a conservation space. We will expand it to 30 percent of Indonesia's marine area. Hopefully we can reach it by 2045," Trenggono said during the 'Indonesia Marine and Fisheries Business Forum 2024' at the Fairmont Hotel in Jakarta, Monday, February 5, 2024.

Right now, Trenggono said, the size of Indonesia's marine conservation area is 28.9 million hectares, only 8.9 percent of the total marine area. It consists of 21.5 million hectares of designated area and 7.4 million hectares reserved.

By 2045, the ministry wants to have a conservation area of 97.5 million hectares or 30 percent of Indonesia's entire marine area.

The minister said there are a number of challenges in achieving this target. Not only in terms of financial and non-financial resources, but also in ensuring that 30 percent protection will have a positive impact on the environment and socio-economic society.

"I also would like to inform you that protecting 30 percent of marine areas is part of the ministry's Five Blue Economy Strategies. Conservation Areas will support fish production, carbon absorption and oxygen production from the sea," he said.

Minister Trenggono said that conservation areas are an important zone for the sustainability of fisheries resources. "Because the conservation area is a natural spawning place for fish. And it cannot be passed by fishing or commercial vessels."

Last year, Trenggono said that this effort was part of Indonesia's commitment to contribute to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which targets 30 percent of global marine areas needing to be protected by 2030.

"But given our national conditions, we need more time to realize this target, and we plan to achieve it by 2045," Trenggono said on December 5, 2023.

DEFARA DHANYA PARAMITHA

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