Antara 20 Jul 18;
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Timor Leste have launched a new project aimed at ensuring the conservation and sustainable management of marine and fisheries resources in the Indonesian Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (ISLME).
The project, called "Enabling Transboundary Cooperation for Sustainable Management of the Indonesian Seas," was launched in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) during a three-day meeting between the two governments` representatives here, the UN organization said in a statement.
During the meeting, which ended on Thursday, Indonesia and Timor Leste agreed to ensure the productivity of the ecosystem, aimed at improving food security and livelihood opportunities for locals dependent on marine and fisheries resources in both countries.
The ISLME covers approximately 2.13 million sq.km, 98 percent of which is located within Indonesia`s territorial waters and approximately two percent within the territorial waters of Timor Leste.
Around 185 million people live in the ISLME region, with many highly dependent on coastal and marine industries including fisheries, aquaculture, oil and gas production, transportation, and tourism.
The FAO said Global Environment Facility (GEF) is contributing US$4 million to support the project for a four year period.
As the two leading ministries in the project, the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) have committed to ensuring that the undertaking addresses their priorities, such as combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The collaboration between the countries is aimed at ensuring that the globally-significant biodiversity in the ISLME remains sustainable now and for future generations.
(Tz. R013/B/NE)
(T.R013/B/KR-BSR/B/H-YH)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
