The New MP-Elect Oceans Conservancy Policy Training Workshop served as a platform for discussing important policies and strategies related to ocean conservation and fisheries management in Indonesia.
Co-organized by ICCF Indonesia and Konservasi Indonesia, the session emphasized Indonesia's bold plan to allocate 30% of its waters as conservation areas by 2045, while also addressing the increasing challenges in fisheries management. The workshop aimed to prepare newly elected members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR-RI) by providing them with a deep understanding of these critical marine conservation issues, particularly in terms of their oversight, legislative, and budgetary roles, ensuring that new parliamentarians are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their positions. The workshop was honored by the presence of Hons. Prof. Rokhmin Dahuri, Rahayu Saraswati, Eva Monalisa, Once Mekel, Rina Sa’adah, Nila Yani Hardiyanti, Sofwan Ardyanto, and Bonnie Triyana.
Meizani Irmadhiany and Victor Nikijuluw of Konservasi Indonesia opened the discussion by introducing Indonesia's ambitious plan to designate 30% of its waters as conservation areas by 2045, extending the timeline from the global goal of 2030 to align with Indonesia's centennial celebration, known as Indonesia Emas 2024. They outlined the spatial studies conducted to identify potential conservation zones and emphasized the findings of a Cost-Benefit Analysis, which revealed that although protecting these areas may cost between IDR 42 trillion and IDR 54 trillion, the benefits—ranging from tourism and fisheries income to crucial environmental services—far outweigh the costs.
Addressing the financial challenges of conservation, Victor discussed the reliance on NGOs for funding Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the limited support from the government. He highlighted the need for innovative financing mechanisms, such as coral bonds and conservation bonds, to ensure the sustainability of these efforts. Hon. Rahayu Saraswati inquired about the potential of debt-to-nature swaps as a funding solution, to which Victor explained Indonesia's ongoing efforts to convert its debt to the US into a joint conservation fund.
Saut Tampubolon of USAID BERIKAN highlighted the urgent need for sustainable fisheries management as global fish consumption rises with a growing population. He emphasized that current production falls short, contributing to malnutrition for over 3 billion people, including many in Indonesia. Saut stressed the importance of balancing ecological health with socio-economic well-being as Indonesia faces overfishing and declining stocks.
To address these challenges, Saut outlined ten priorities: reforming fisheries policies, updating laws to tackle climate change and overexploitation, creating robust fisheries management plans, reconsidering the decentralization of management, replicating successful models, protecting small-scale fishermen, supporting Indonesian vessels in border waters, improving data collection, resolving the shrimp export ban, and revitalizing fisheries institutions.
He called for innovative solutions and better coordination among agencies to ensure the sustainability of Indonesia’s fisheries and marine ecosystems.
Further on the challenges faced by small-scale fishermen, discussions revealed how fuel subsidies often fail to reach these fishermen, and there was a consensus on the need for improved coordination between government agencies and stakeholders to address such issues. Hon. Rina Sa’adah highlighted the importance of developing the fish processing industry to add value to products, focusing on business clustering and boosting competitiveness in the face of limited infrastructure.
On the topic of aquaculture and sustainable practices, Hon. Rahayu Saraswati expressed interest in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) as a sustainable solution, particularly for reducing feed costs. The conversation also touched on the ecological impacts of aquaculture, with particular attention to the Climate Smart Shrimp concept, which combines responsible shrimp farming with ecosystem restoration.
The New MP-Elect Oceans Conservancy Policy Training Workshop concluded with a call for a balanced and integrated approach to ocean conservation and fisheries management. The discussions highlighted the crucial need to blend scientific expertise with socio-economic factors to ensure sustainable results for Indonesia’s marine ecosystems and local communities. Looking ahead, ongoing collaboration, creative financing solutions, and effective policy execution will be essential to achieving the ambitious goals set by the Indonesian government and protecting Indonesia’s rich marine biodiversity.
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