Indonesia Promotes Good Practices in Blue Economy at the 2023 HLM of the AIS Forum

PRESS RELEASE

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA TEAM OF THE 2023 HLM OF THE AIS FORUM No.51/SP/TKM-AISFORUM2023/10/2023

Badung, 10 October 2023 – Indonesia is committed to implementing a blue economy in marine spatial governance through a series of policies.

"At the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, we proposed five main policies to implement the blue economy. We have also conveyed this to all participating countries of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum," said Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono in Jakarta, Monday evening, 9 October 2023.

The first of the five main policies is the expansion of conservation areas. This policy is crucial because it also concerns climate change.

"It is about how marine conservation area absorbs five times more carbon than the one on land while producing oxygen and serving as a natural spawning area for fisheries in the sea," said Trenggono.

The second policy is measured fishing. "We also said to all participating countries of the AIS Forum that Indonesia will start implementing this policy immediately. Government Regulation No. 11 2023 has been issued, stating that fishing at sea, especially in Indonesian waters, must be based on quotas," he said.

The third policy is the development of sustainable aquaculture in coastal, marine, and inland fisheries.

"This is important. Five commodities must become a flagship in the next few years, namely shrimp, lobster, crab, tilapia, and seaweed," said Trenggono.

The fourth policy is the supervision of small islands and coasts. This is also important in relation to climate change as well.

"The fifth policy, as previously mentioned in international forums, including at the AIS Forum last year, is the effort to reduce marine plastic debris involving the participation of fishers," said Trenggono.

The minister explained that the establishment of the AIS Forum always refers to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, especially regarding good global maritime governance.

Trenggono explained that there are three key points to ensure the continuity of the AIS Forum. Firstly, the sense of sharing a common fate.

"Since we are all island-based countries, we are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. We can work together with these countries to address the same challenges related to climate change," he said.

Secondly, the political desire that will be outlined in the HLM of AIS Forum Leaders' Declaration to encourage the AIS Forum to become a stronger and more effective institution in the future. And lastly, the aspects of funding sources, knowledge, and experience.

One of the matters to be accommodated in the AIS Forum Leaders’ Declaration related to sustainable marine management is that all AIS Forum participating countries, especially state leaders, must share the same perspective on managing, maintaining, and protecting the ocean, with ecology taking precedence.

"In general, the AIS Forum participating countries responded positively and respected each other's level of commitment. In this forum, it is in the interests of AIS countries to share their experiences. Hopefully, the same perspectives and commitments can be agreed upon in the coming days," said the minister.

The biggest challenge is the vast marine resources, with an emphasis on maintaining its ecology as a priority. However, there is significant economic pressure, especially in maritime countries with large populations like Indonesia.

“How do we effectively govern marine space? How do we organize marine governance to ensure its preservation? It is crucial that the five programs we initiated as part of the blue economy program are conveyed in the forum so that all archipelagic countries are committed to protecting the ocean as one ecology, including the biota within it,” said the minister. (KKP/TR Public Relations/Elvira Inda Sari/WS/WW)

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About AIS Forum:

The Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum is a global platform for cooperation among island and archipelagic states that aims at strengthening collaboration to address global issues with four main areas of focus: climate change mitigation and adaptation, the blue economy, marine plastic debris, and good maritime governance. The 2023 High-Level Meeting of the AIS Forum is organized

to reinforce the role of the AIS Forum as a center for smart & innovative solutions and a platform for collaboration in promoting the future agenda of global maritime governance.

For more information, please contact:

Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320).

Get more press releases, news, photos, and videos related to the 2023 HLM of the AIS Forum at https://s.id/aispedia.

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono delivers his address at the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Blue Economy High-Level Dialogue in Bali, Monday, 9 October 2023. Indonesia will reaffirm its commitment to implementing the blue economy in marine spatial governance at the 2023 HLM of the AIS Forum.