Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, urged the international community to collaborate and bridge the research and technology gap in the global maritime and fisheries sector at the recent South-South Cooperation Forum.

"Indonesia urged countries with advanced fisheries technology to assist the South-South countries by providing research assistance, capability upgrade, and talent development," Trenggono informed in a press release issued by the ministry in Jakarta on Saturday.

He said that at the forum, he urged South-South countries to collaborate for research and technology development, which is essential for harnessing fisheries resources to satisfy the global demand for fish.

Maritime research and technology are also essential to balance ecological protection, maritime environment health, and economic development, he added.

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The disparity in global fisheries development has led to countries struggling to satisfy global food demands, he pointed out. The ongoing climate crisis that is affecting the global fisheries industry should prompt the global community to collaborate and address these issues, he added.

To resolve global maritime and fisheries issues, the Indonesian government has pushed for cooperation within the South-South community, he said. Indonesia is also committed to supporting fisheries development, particularly for developing low-carbon and environmentally sustainable fisheries technology, Trenggono added.

"Collaboration among the South-South community is important to address the climate crisis' effect on the global fisheries industry," the minister said.

Besides relying on research and technology, the continuity of measured fishing practice is also essential to achieve proper fisheries resource control and ecological sustainability, he added.

Indonesia recognizes South-South and Triangular Cooperation as an international cooperation platform for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while considering multiple stakeholders' interests.

The South-South and Triangular High-Level Roundtable Meeting took place during the Global Conference on Aquaculture, held from September 22-25, 2021. It was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other international organizations.

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Translator: M Razi Rahman, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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