Jakarta – The 2023 Archipelagic and Island States Summit (AIS Forum Summit), which will be held on 10-11 October in Bali, will be a momentum to increase cooperation between island states in addressing climate change, said an official from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP). Climate change is a serious threat to island states, as it can cause sea levels to rise and islands to sink.
Acting Expert Staff for Ecosocultural Affairs of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Hendra Yusran Siry, revealed that this includes encouraging the implementation of a blue economy map for island and archipelagic member countries (AIS) Forum 2023. According to him, the government has established a blue economy policy.
This policy aims to optimise the sustainable use of marine and coastal natural resources and improve the welfare of coastal communities. This policy consists of five pillars: increasing marine conservation areas, quota-based measured fishing, sustainable development of aquaculture in marine, coastal and inland areas, supervision and control of coastal and small island areas, and management of plastic waste in the sea.
“The big challenge facing Indonesia is how to optimise the potential of the blue economy amid the threat of climate change because climate change not only causes sea levels to rise but also land subsidence,” Siry said at the Forum Merdeka Barat 9 (FMB9) with the theme ‘Overcoming Global Ocean Problems’.
In some parts of Indonesia, land subsidence has already occurred significantly and could exacerbate the threat of sinking islands.
On the same occasion, Landscape Indonesia CEO Agus Sari welcomed the Indonesian government’s efforts to become a leader in the blue economy. However, he also emphasised that this blue economy ecosystem must be discussed comprehensively.
“Indonesia has a large marine area and abundant natural resources. However, this potential is overshadowed by various challenges, such as environmental damage, climate change, and waste,” he said. (Hartatik)
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