Yogya (KU) – Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is targeting the improvement of national fishery production amounting to 13.36 million tons in 2010 with a volume of 2.9 billion dollars in export value. Target of fisheries production increased by 0.63 million tons compared with that in year 2009, 12.73 million tons. This was announced by Secretary General of the Ministry, Prof. Dr. Ir. Syamsul Ma’arif, M. Eng., DEA, in National Conference of Indonesian Maritime Sovereignty held at UGM Graduate School, Saturday (15/5).
The government also aims to increase public consumption of fish up to 30.98 kg/cap/year and increase the number of workforce to as many as 10.52 million people. "Last year, we succeeded in opening employment opportunities in maritime affairs with the number of workforce employed being 10.02 million people," he said.
Syamsul added that the ministry will improve the monitoring of marine resources by minimizing the level of criminal violations. In addition, coastal ecosystem management in 42 districts and implementation of marine conservation areas covering 10 million ha will also be conducted. He admitted that marine resources have not provided prosperity for the people. It is due to the lack of fishing infrastructure, aquaculture and marine and fisheries product processing, limitations of equipment and fisheries production facilities, as well as the institutional development of fishermen, farmers, and millers.
Governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan HB X, in his keynote address emphasized that grand vision of Indonesia as a maritime country will not develop constructively, productively, and innovatively, if it only stops at one generation of leadership in the past. According to the Sultan, the firmness of national leaders becomes a prerequisite for making Indonesia a maritime country.
Meanwhile, Director of UGM Graduate School, Dr. Hartono, said that Indonesia has more than 17 thousand islands, including 12 thousand unpopulated islands and 9000 unnamed ones. However, as a maritime country, it has yet to provide welfare for its people. "Our country was a country having a maritime empire in the past. However, now it is marginalized by the mainland approach, which makes the marine concept far from expectation," he said.
Similar opinion was also delivered by UGM Vice Rector of Alumni and Business Development, Prof. Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, M. Phil., Ph.D. He said that it is time to take advantage of this maritime resources optimally for society’s refinement, utility, and happiness. "UGM will continue to commit itself to process natural resources for national welfare through scientific and Pancasila values," he said