Jakarta, May 27, 2013 (ANTARA) -- The partnership between the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nations (FAO) has long been intertwined. The partnership is not limited to the projects technically implemented, but also a variety of information exchange related to the capacity development, a brief course and the maritime and fishery information exchange. In fact, some projects have already been completed between 2007 and 2011. Meanwhile, in 2013, the partnership with FAO is expanded by involving the MMAF's 1st echelon element. This was conveyed by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fishery, Sharif C. Sutardjo, after the agreement signing between MMAF and FAO in Jakarta, on Monday, May 27.

Sharif stated that some KKP-FAO's collaborations initiated on 2012 until now have still been implemented, such as "The Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem" Project (BOBLME). The program aims to establish the sustainable strategic ecosystem protection and the management of Teluk Benggala's fishery resource actions to improve the food resilience and the livelihood of the coastal communities. Additionally, both organizations have still been implementing Strategies for Trawl Fisheries by catch Management (REBYC-II CTI). "This 2012-2016-targeted program is the project aiming to decrease the fishing methods by using bycatch and trawl," added Sharif.

Sharif continued that the partnership is also directly related to the interest of the fishermen. This can be seen through the 2012-2013's Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme for South and Southeast Asia program http://www.fao.org.vn/en-US/Project/previewproject.aspx?ID=296. The program is meant to strengthen the fishing capacity of the small scale fishermen and the supporting institutions in Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. "Here in Indonesia, the Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme for South and Southeast Asia program is implemented in Kupang East Nusa Tenggara (ENT) and already elevated to the last phase. "From December 2012 to January 2013, the FAO's Fishery and Aquaculture division, directed by Dr. Indroyono Soesilo, has submitted some collaboration proposals on the KKP-FAO's fishery activity in 2013," explained him.

The Partnership for 2013
Sharif explained that the proposals have already been discussed and consulted, resulting nine fishery activities planned for 2013, namely; the workshop for tuna and deep sea fishery and the small scale fishermen's fuel workshop on May 2013. On June 2013, KKP-FAO will host The Indian Ocean and Pacific Conference (IOPAC) 2013 in
Bali . "On August, KKP-FAO will hold the Maritime Fishery Culture Training for FAO's state members in Bali," said Sharif.

In addition to that, MMAF-FAO will organize Fresh Water Fish Culture in Sukamandi, West Java on September 2013; the Workshop for the Tuna Remote Sensing and the Women Empowerment in the seaweed culture; The Regional Rice Initiative program to be held from June to Spetember 2013 in West and Central Java. "The other 3-year tentative programs planned to held on 2013 are Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) on Development of Preventive aquatic Animal Health Protection Plan and Enhancing Emergency response, capacity to Shrimp Disease Outbreak in Indonesia,” added Sharif. Sharif asserted that both MMAF and FAO agreed on elevating the partnership by arranging the regulations, which is by initiating Memorandom of Understanding (MoU) regulating the partnership activity between MMAF and FAO. In other words, the MoU controls the FAO's activity in Indonesia.

The FAO's delegates led by José Graziano da Silva, Director General of Food and Agricultural Organizations of the United Nations was accompanied by Indroyono Soesilo, Director of Fisheries Resources and Aquaculture; Mustafa Imir, FAO Representative for Indonesia; and Rodrigo Castaneda Acting Chief, Partnerships and Advocacy Branch, Office for Communication, Partnerships and Advocacy. While MMAF was directly representated by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sharif C. Sutardjo, accompanied by all of the 1st Echelon officers as well as the head MMAF's Law bureau.

For more information, please contact Indra Sakti, SE, MM, Head of Statistic and Information Center, The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. (Ph. 0818159705)

Editor: PR Wire
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