Minister Applies Blue Economy Policy
18 April 2013 12:40 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) decides to apply blue economy policy to improve public prosperity and welfare. “With the policy, the maritime and fishery sector is expected to propel Indonesian economy development,” stated Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Sharif Cicip Sutardjo, to Tempo on Wednesday (17/4).
Sharif believed that the implementation of blue economy in the maritime and fisheries industry is crucial in an effort to improve the industry scheme that often damages the environment. Further, the policy is expected to encourage efficient and wasteless use of natural resources, and multiply economic benefits in various sectors.
Sharif stated that this blue economic policy managed to help fisherman to improve their amount of catches in some countries. For example, fishermen in China and Vietnam are able to increase their catches to 20 percent in 1999. This also applies for Norwegian fishermen that managed to increase its catches up to 30 percent. “Indonesia will follow,” he said.
The Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries will uphold four pillars of social-economic development strategies including pro-growth, pro-poor, pro-job, and pro-environment. “That way, KKP will be able to give a significant contribution to the improvement of the people’s welfare,” Sharif explained.
AMRI MAHBUB