RI yet to determine sea boundary for inclusion in PSSA
Antara 6 Aug 08;
Jakarta, (ANTARA News) - Indonesia till has yet to provide one of its waters to the particularly sensitive sea areas (PSSA) and other mechanism of the international maritime organization (IMO) to manage special areas, a senior official says.
"This country has not yet determined and forwarded a PSSA zone to IMO," Director General of Law and International Agreements of the Foreign Ministry Eddi Pratomo said here on Tuesday.
Judging from its geographical location and condition, Indonesia as a coastal country is authorized to make efforts and interactions in determining certain areas whose environment is identified as an area in need of special protection, he said.
According to him, PSSA is a territorial sea in need of special protection on account of ecological, socia-economic, scientific and technological aspects because these waters are prone to damage by passing ships.
Pratomo said it is necessary to search the environment to determine the area in PSSA and to get support from the international maritime community.
A three day workshop is expected to provide input from various authorities such as the navy, transportation ministry, marine and fishery ministry, the Indonesian maritime council and shipping companies before conducting the research.
Till now, IMO has declared 11 waters as PSSA such as the Great Barrier Reef (Australia), Canary Island (Spain), Galapagos (Equador), Baltic Sea (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithunia, Poland and Sweden).
As one of the speakers who is expert in marine law, Prof Dr Hasyim Djalal said at least five regions had the potential to be included in PSSA.
The five are Malacca Strait, Singapore Strait, Terumbu triangle, Alor-Solor Corridor, Maritime Conservation areas and Sulawesi-Sulu ecological region. (*)
