Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government plans to amend several regulations related to marine affairs and fisheries in a bid to overcome the various problems plaguing this sector.

"I want to revise many ministerial regulations. The president has allowed us to go ahead with the amendments. All can be revised to make it better," Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti remarked after a meeting with President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, here on Friday.

She explained that the regulations to undergo revision included the one concerning the loading and unloading of ships at sea, along with changes in the tariff charged for permits given to ships for conducting fishing in the Indonesian waters.

The minister revealed that President Jokowi had urged her to continue carrying out improvements in the marine affairs and fisheries sector, so that it can reap benefits for the people.

Besides reporting several issues, Susi said she also put forth a request to the president for being allowed to return to Pangandaran, West Java, during the weekend.

In the meantime, Navy Chief Admiral Marsetio has announced that his side and the related ministries are accumulating data on various problems and challenges faced by the marine and fisheries sector.

"We are making a list of issues that should be addressed together, including illegal fishing," Marsetio stated after a meeting with Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti here on Thursday.

The Navy chief noted that preparing a list of issues was an important task and should be followed by concrete actions with regard to on-field problems faced by the marine and fisheries sector.

Marsetio revealed that 11 stakeholders have voiced their respective problems associated with the regulations concerning the marine and fisheries sector.

He said that before the meeting with Minister Susi, he also met Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Indroyono Soesilo.

The Navy chief noted that in the coming six months, after the Law on Maritime Affairs comes into effect, the government has to issue a regulation in lieu of the law with regard to the sea security agency (Bakamla).

The Bakamla is a body comparable to the United States Coast Guard. It should serve as the only institution that carries out supervision of Indonesias maritime territory.

"Later, there will only be one agency," he stated, adding that the body could help to curtail costs to be borne by businesses in the marine sector.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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