"The aim of this cooperation is to preserve the sea and realize sustainable management of marine biological resources," Director General of Sea Space Management at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Brahmantya Satyamurti Poerwadi, said in a press statement received by ANTARA here on Sunday.
The document was signed by Brahmantya Satyamurti Poerwadi and President of the Monaco Research Center, Patrick Rampal in Monaco on Thursday (Dec 6), and witnessed by the Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti; the Monaco Minister of Internal Affairs, Patrice Cellario; and the Monaco Deputy Foreign Minister, Isabelle Rosabrunneto.
The signing of the LoI is a follow-up to one of the results of the bilateral meeting of Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Prince Albert II Monaco at Our Ocean Conference (OOC) which was held in Bali on October 29-30, 2018.
"We have visited the Monaco Research Center to discuss and learn more about efforts to conserve coral reefs," Brahmantya said.
This cooperation aims to fulfill the commitments that have been conveyed by Indonesia under the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), as well as to show an effort to carry out the mandate of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Brahmantya explained that the scope of this LOI was made based on the same interests regarding conservation, sustainable use of the marine environment and general principles of the implementation of marine research.
The scope of cooperation includes identification of coral reefs that are damaged and/or affected by bleaching; the impact and chronology of marine pollution using a coral proxy; climate variability; ocean acidification; Paleo climate using a coral proxy; coral reef monitoring and rehabilitation; and capacity building and exchange visits of researchers/experts.
According to Brahmantya, this LoI would soon be followed up with a more technical cooperation agreement, involving all stakeholders from relevant ministries/institutions in Indonesia.
"We will involve the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, and the National Development Planning Agency, academics and higher education institutions," he added.
Reporting by Muhammad Razi Rahman
Editing by Libertina, Bustanuddin
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
