"Everyone (is interested). Hence, we invited them (to adopt a blue economy), so they will adopt it in their countries with their own limitations and advantages," KKP Ministry's Director General of Marine Spatial Management, Victor Gustaaf Manoppo, told ANTARA in Bali on Tuesday.
Manoppo, who attended the meeting on behalf of KKP Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, stated that the participating delegations share the same goals with Indonesia to protect marine conservation areas.
The delegations from archipelagic and island states had also voiced interest in the Indonesian government's quota-based measured fishing program, he added.
He said several countries have stated their willingness to help Indonesia expand its marine conservation area, adding that the KKP Ministry would initially sort and choose the most suitable scheme.
"They are willing to help, and we will sort (the schemes) first. Hopefully, the help will be in the form of grant instead of loan, so we will not be obliged to return it since it would not be a debt," he elaborated.
He then highlighted that the KKP Ministry had forged cooperation with Japan, Norway, and the United Kingdom to succeed in the marine conservation area expansion program.
Furthermore, he noted that the ministerial meeting, being held a day prior to the 1st High Level Meeting of the AIS Forum, is directed to facilitate archipelagic and island states to strengthen cooperation and a sense of shared responsibility in preserving the health of marine ecosystems.
The KKP Ministry is currently striving to expand Indonesia's marine conservation area to 97.5 million hectares, or about 30 percent of the country's territorial sea, by 2045.
As of last year, Indonesia's marine conservation area had reached 28.9 million hectares.
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Translator: Sinta A, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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