Women to Power Sri Lanka’s Mangrove Conservation Plan

Jakarta Globe, Amantha Perera, Jun 08, 2015

A worker carries a sack of plastic bottles collected from the beach for a
 recycling project during World Environment Day in Colombo, Sri Lanka
on June 5, 2015. (Reuters Photo/Dinuka Liyanawatte)

Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s new mangrove protection scheme, the world’s first country-wide initiative, is relying on women like Michel Priyadarshani, head of a fisherwomen’s group in eastern Ambantotam village.

Priyadarshani and her colleagues did not understand the importance of mangroves for the ecosystem, including the fish population, until they benefited from a program offering microcredit in return for looking after the coastal forests.

“Now we know — and from us, our husbands and our community also have become aware,” Priyadarshani said.

Since 1997, Sudeesa, a national organization that works to protect coastal ecosystems, has given women living near mangrove forests financial assistance — mainly loans of $50 to $2,000 each — incentivizing them to care for the delicate trees.

Now the program is about to go island-wide. Sudeesa, together with the Sri Lankan government and US-based environmental conservation group Seacology, recently launched a five-year, $3.4 million mangrove preservation initiative.

Sri Lanka is the first nation to promise to protect all its mangroves, experts said.

Mangrove trees grow in saltwater, forming a vital part of the natural cycle in coastal lagoons. Fish and other marine creatures like prawns use the deep roots as breeding areas.

The forests protect coastal communities from abrupt tidal shifts and storms, while slowing shore erosion.

“People who live near mangroves tell us the trees act as a buffer against the wind and heavy rains, breaking their intensity just before they make landfall,” said Douglas Thisera, director for coastal conservation at Sudeesa, formerly known as the Small Fishers Federation of Lanka.

Mangrove swamps also store carbon, sequestering it in the top few meters of underwater soil and keeping it there longer than other trees.

Micro-loans

K D Wijitha, who runs a group bringing together women from 23 villages in the northwestern Kalapitiya area, said they had learned to look after the mangrove forests.

“We make sure that they are safe,” she said.

Thanks to the Sudeesa program, Kristina Jospin from Samadigama village in northwestern Puttalam District received training and financial aid to operate a small bakery, which allows her to support her sick husband and four children.

Sudeesa credit officer Suvinetha de Silva said the program usually targets the poorest women, who are unable to seek credit from banks.

The new national scheme aims to set up 1,500 community groups around Sri Lanka’s 48 lagoons, which will offer alternative job training and micro-loans to 15,000 people. The groups will be responsible for the upkeep of designated mangrove forests.

Pilot projects showed a high success rate, said Duane Silverstein, executive director of Seacology. Almost 2,000 loans were made to women, with a repayment rate of over 96 percent.

“With very small loans of around $100, several of the women were so successful that they already employed additional women,” he said.

Half of loan recipients under the new program will be widows, while the rest will be male and female school dropouts.

Seacology and Sudeesa officials said each community group will be responsible for around 8.5 hectares of mangrove forest. The government has agreed to provide rangers to patrol the forests.

The program also plans to replant 3,885 hectares of mangroves.

The new government of President Maithripala Sirisena has brought the island’s 8,815 hectares of mangroves under the Forest Ordinance Act, making it illegal for anyone to exploit them for commercial purposes.

“It is an extremely vital decision because now all mangroves around the island can be protected with the active participation of the Forestry Department,” said Sudeesa chairman Anuradha Wickramasinghe.

Prawn damage

Some three decades ago, Sri Lanka had at least 98,842 acres of mangroves, Thisera said. But the bulk has been destroyed due to commercial exploitation and firewood use.

“The biggest threats to mangroves in Sri Lanka include prawn farms, which have been greatly curtailed in recent years, collateral damage from the civil war, and impoverished people cutting down mangroves to use or sell as charcoal,” Seacology’s Silverstein said.

The worst damage occurred in the northwest of the island nation, where commercial prawn farms took off in the 1990s. But most of these farms have been abandoned in the last few years due to the spread of disease.

The new mangrove protection scheme plans to introduce other trees that can provide an alternative fuel source, such as coconut husks.

Silverstein said the government’s enthusiasm for protecting the mangrove forests could push other countries in the region to follow suit.

Defense Secretary B.M.U.D. Basnayake told Silverstein the national armed forces could help with replanting efforts.

Sudeesa’s Wickramasinghe said the program’s success would depend on how far local communities buy into it.

“We have to make them understand the mangroves are a boost to their lives and their incomes,” he added.

Thomson Reuters Foundation

Landmark Education Deal Looks to Maritime Future

Jakarta Globe, Rabab Hannan, Feb 10, 2015

Pelita Harapan University (UPH) rector Jonathan L. Parapak, right, director of the
 Shipping and Transportation College Rotterdam (STC-Group) Albert Bos, center,
 and MCS Internasional manning and training services managing director Johan
Novitrian sign a cooperation agreement as Hajo Provo Kluit from the Netherlands
 Embasy, right, and Humpuss Intermoda Transportasi director Theo Lekatompessy
look on. (ID Photo/Emral)

Jakarta. Hajo Provo Kluit, the deputy head of the economic department of the Netherlands Embassy in Jakarta, has formalized the signing of a maritime educational partnership between Pelita Harapan University (UPH), STC-Group Rotterdam and Humpuss Intermoda Transportasi.

The master’s program opens management opportunities in the field of maritime industry, with practical training and internship collaboration provided by STC and Humpuss Intermoda Transportasi.

Held at the university’s executive education facility in Jakarta on Monday, the signing of the cooperation allows the expansion of human resources in the fields of maritime, logistics and supply chain.

“The ties between Indonesia and Netherlands are very broad. Our embassy processes about 28,000 visa applications a year to travel to the Netherlands. Students are also studying at various institutes in Netherlands,” Provo Kluit said.

“Another area in which the Indonesian government is close to the Netherlands is interest in infrastructure, logistics and water management. I like to think of Indonesia as our gateway to Southeast Asia,” Provo Kluit added on behalf of the economic department of the Netherlands Embassy.

UPH’s key mission is for the specialization of the maritime industry and for senior managers to access port authority, shipping and logistics companies throughout Indonesia.

“I’d like to thank STC and Humpuss to have actually taken part together in this executive program to start something unique in Indonesia,” said UPH rector Jonathan Parapak. “This is a very elite program that will be of interest to many Indonesians. Thank you to the embassy of the Netherlands for supporting this too.”

International faculty members will also teach the program from one of the world’s largest shipping schools — STC Group Rotterdam — offering practical and engaging experiences.

“Hopefully this program can help future executives of the government,” said STC director Captain Albert Bos.

The UPH executive education center was established in 2013 with a mission to provide cutting-edge, results-orientated executive education programs that build managerial and leadership capabilities.

UPH is pushing for an international standard in education, especially in the field of human capital training for maritime services.

“The government is pushing for a maritime industry but I think there is a significant gap in the human capital development in that particular sector,” said UPH senior adviser for executive education Grace Ugut. “Building ports can be done quite quickly — money is there — but building human capital is something that will have to be invested in.”

The uniqueness of this program lies in the integration of shipping, commercial, technological and even maritime law and leadership endeavors.

“Our program will not only open up a classroom, but there is a component of internship, local content and we partner with STC because they are really good in terms of technical assistance but we also invite institutes from the UK and Sweden as they are very strong on the maritime quality and insurance,” Grace said. “We want the best standard but at the same time have all the local content.”

Theo Lekatompessy, president director of new partner Humpuss Intermoda Transportasi, however, revealed the extent of international and regional challenges through inconsistent standards of educational recognition.

“The problem is basically we need a standard in Indonesia; at least the harmonization of education. So when you have a certificate in Jakarta it will reflect the same wherever you go,” Theo said. “Our next issue is how to apply the standard on certifications of the skills [in maritime] with international standards?”

He emphasized the need to overlook international standards in order to find national common ground for Indonesian Maritime education.

“STC is fine-tuning the standards and allowing it to become applicable. UPH will focus on the education and development of the capacity building group.”

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Taitung bans harvesting of juvenile giant clams

Want China Times, CNA 2014-05-05

A giant clam. (File photo/China Times)

Taitung county in eastern Taiwan has banned the harvesting of giant clams measuring 15 centimeters and smaller in the waters off Green island, listing the mollusk as a protected species.

The ban also prohibits harvesting giant clams of any size from the areas around Caikou, Shilang and Guiwan in the island township, one of Taiwan's most popular destinations for leisure diving activities.

Violators will face a fine ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 (US$1,000-US$5,000).

Giant clams, dubbed "the beautiful flowers of the sea" by locals for their colorful outer mantles, are the world's largest bivalve mollusk. Their characteristic vivid colors come from the symbiotic algae that grow on their tissue.

The largest ever found in the corals around Green Island measured 150 centimeters in length. But local fishermen and diving instructors have noticed a sharp decline in the number of large giant clams.

One local diver recalled that there were visible signs of giant clams as big as 30-cm long in shallow waters as recently as three or four years ago. Now, he says, he has to dive 20 meters down to find any bigger than 15 cm.

"The only ones left are 'children' less than 15-cm long," the diver said, lamenting the fact that government did not impose a ban earlier.

Giant clams in the wild grow by just 3-4 cm a year, a county official said. "It would take more than 30 years (for a giant clam) to grow to 150 centimeters long."

The government blames the reduction in population on over-harvesting by tourist divers and some locals looking to collect the colorful shells.

In addition to the newly introduced ban, the county has teamed up with the Fisheries Research Institute under the Council of Agriculture to develop a conservation plan aimed at replenishing the giant clam population.

They are also drawing up plans to set up a giant clam-centered marine biology education platform to turn Green island into a top spot for ecology education, the government said.

Govt to build marine conservation school in Wakatobi

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 07/16/2011

Indonesia will establish the School for Marine Conservation (SMC) in Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, to produce experts who will help the country preserve its natural resources, especially the ocean.

Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister Fadel Muhammad laid the foundation stone for the center's building, marking the start of construction on Saturday.

He said the center would train many new officers to manage water conservation areas nationwide, which are expected to reach 20 million hectares by 2020 according to government plans.

“We will need up to 5,000 competent and professional people to manage the conservation areas,” Fadel was quoted as saying Saturday by Antara news agency.

He said the training center would offer students three major fields of study: conservation management, biodiversity and ocean engineering.

“The school will accommodate 400 students, 50 lecturers, 50 members of staff and 2,000 trainees,” Fadel said.

He added that the government chose Wakatobi as the site for the school as it sat at the center of world’s coral triangle and had rich natural resources. Wakatobi is also home to a 1.39-hectare national marine park with diverse coral reefs.

UNDP To Finance Wakatobi International Fishery School

Antara News, Fri, July 8 2011

UNDP provides the funds of Rp100 billion for the construction of the Wakatobi International Fishery School, the first of its kind Asia....

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Kendari, SE Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will fully finance the construction of the International Fishery School (SPI) in Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, a local official said.

Illustration of a Fisherman
(ANTARA PHOTO/Zabur Karuru)

Wakatobi Mmarine and Fishery Office Chief Hajiu said on Friday that Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad would lay the first corner stone next Saturday, July 16, 2011.

"UNDP provides the funds of Rp100 billion for the construction of the Wakatobi International Fishery School, the first of its kind Asia," Hajiu said.

According to him, Wakatobi district government would only provide 100-hectare plot of land for the construction of the school in two stages, financed by UNDP.

For the first stage he said the local government has prepared a 50-hectare plot of land for school which was to be inaugurated by the maritime affairs and fisheries minister.

"On the 50-hectare plot of land for the first stage, the International Fishery School will be built in addition to other facilities such as students dormitory, and Muslim and Christian houses of worship," Hajiu said.

He said both Muslim and Christian houses of worship were needed because the students and lecturers would be from various countries, especially the six countries at the world`s coral reef triangle area.

According to Hajiu, the the prospective students who wanted to study at the school would undergo tight entry test, especially related to their academic competence on coral reefs conservation.

"In principle, the students who are accepted to study at such as school will be taught and trained in such away to master the knowledge about coral reefs conservation," Hajiu said.

He said the first-corner-stone laying ceremony

would also be attended by Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik, Southeast Sulawesi Governor Nur Alam, and a number of other invitees.

Editor: Ade Marboen

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• Indonesia - Korea to Build Marine and Fisheries Institute in Karawang

Indonesia - Korea to Build Marine and Fisheries Institute in Karawang

Antara News, Wed, July 6 2011

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• Indonesia - Korea to Increase Partnership in Marine Sector

Jakarta, July 6, 2011 (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and Korea Marine Institute (KMI) agree to build national Marine and Fisheries Institute in Karawang, West Java.This educational institution which was built in 2012 is the development from Fisheries College (STP) and Fisheries Academy (AP) to become a world-class educational institution. "To realize this program, Karawang Regency has prepared a land area of 65 Hectares. While the budget of 300 billion rupiah will be borne together by the Indonesian and Korean Government for each 150 billion rupiah," explained Head of Marine and Fisheries Human Resources Development, Syarief Widjaya, after opening Indonesia-Korea Ocean and Fisheries Forum (IKOFF) today (6/7) in Jakarta.

The effort to realize this program, KKP previously has done the partnership with the Ministry of National Education so that this marine and fisheries institution can be a world-class higher educational institution and become the Top ten marine and fisheries vocational education in the world. This higher educational institution aims to make superior and characteristic experts to compete in the world of work for national or international level, as well as for make the young enterpreneurs in marine and fisheries sector.

The International Seminar of Indonesia Korea Ocean and Fisheries Forum (The 1st IKOFF) filled with the explanation from leading experts and practitioner in marine, maritime, and fisheries from Indonesia and Korea with three sub-themes, which are sustainable preservation and development of marine and coastal; new source of technology and creative activities of marine. One day before, KKP and KMI has done the signing of Letter of Intent (LoI) to increase partnership in marine and fisheries sector between Indonesia and Korea. This agreement signed by Secretary General of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Gellwynn Jusuf with the President of Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), Hak So Kim, also witnessed by Chairman of Land, Transportation, and Marine Affairs Comission of the Korean House of Representatives, Kwang Keun Chang.

KKP and KMI will be looking for the opportunity to increase partnership in scientific and marine and fisheries research, development and enhancement the capacity of marine technology, marine resources for alternative energy, sustainable and integrated management of marine ecosystem and coastal, fisheries biological resources conservation, the establishment of marine policy study centre, including marine and fisheries," explained Fadel. According to him, these opportunities will be achieved by training, workshop and increasing of other building capacity, such as research and joint development, exchange of experts, information, and related data. For the implementation of this agreement, KKP and KMI will appoint each vocal point to discuss more about operational stride.

For further information, please contact Dr. Yulistyo Mudho, M.Sc, Head of Data, Statistics and Information Center, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Mobile: 0811836967)

Wakatobi to have coral reefs conservation school

Antara News, Otniel Tamindael, Fri, June 3 2011

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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Known for its beautiful and highly diverse coral reefs found nowhere else on earth, Wakatobi is Southeast Sulawesi`s abiding stake in the world`s coral triangle.

The area is made up of a cluster of islands, namely Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko which the local people have abbreviated into the name of Wakatobi.

In an effort to boost preservation of coral reefs in Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, the Indonesian government is currently preparing the opening of a Coral Reefs Conservation School there.

Wakatobi is an area with 25 clusters of coral reefs with wider range of species and various natural resources potential for billions of people.

Therefore the Indonesian government will allocated US$5 million in funds for sustainable preservation and management of coral reefs in Wakatobi.

"The government of Indonesian through President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono provides five million dollars for sustainable preservation and management of coral reefs in six countries of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI)," CTI spokesman Imran said in Wakatobi recently.

Speaking at a meeting of the Association of District Administrations (APKASI) Imran said there were two reasons Indonesia wanted to play a major role in preserving coral reefs in the six CTI member countries.

He said the first was that Indonesia has wider coral reefs than those of the other five other countries and was prepared to turn 20 million hectares of mining areas into national marine parks.

And the second, Indonesian waters have the most diversity of coral reefs namely 70 species of the world`s 850 species.

"The Caribbean sea has only 50 coral reefs and the Red Sea only 300," Imran said.

According to him, coral reefs in Wakatobi must be protected from damage to make them remain sustainable for a certain period of time.

"The management and utilization of natural resources in Wakatobi waters at the center of world coral triangle should consider the principles of sustainable use," Imran said.

He pointed out that the government of Indonesia through the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry would soon establish the Coral Reefs Conservation School in Wakatobi to support the management and utilization of the natural resources there.

"The establishment of Coral Reefs Conservation School in Wakatobi is part of the government attention to protecting and preserving the coral reefs from damage," Imran said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to inaugurate the school, the first of its kind in ASEAN and even in the world, in conjunction with the opening of an international marine event of Sail Wakatobi-Belitung 2011 later in June this year.

Meanwhile, Wakatobi district head Hugua said in Kendari recently that an underwater laboratory would be established on Hoga island in Southeast Sulawesi.

"The utilization of the Wakatobi undersea laboratory as a global center for coral reefs and bio-energy study will begin simultaneously with the opening of an International Fishery School, established by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry," Hugua said sometime in March this year.

According to him, more than a thousand researchers from various countries would begin work in Wakatobi after the laboratory and the school opened in August 2011.

"Every foreign researcher will be assisted by a national researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and from various universities in Indonesia," he said.

Hugua said that to be the main supporter of the international fishery school, the underwater lab would become the center of coral reefs and bio-energy research at the world coral reefs triangle in Wakatobi.

According to him, the students of the international fishery school would come from the six member countries of Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), namely Malaysia, The Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, and Indonesia.

Hugua said that to develop the quality of the school, the Wakatobi district government and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry would collaborate with a number of universities outside Indonesia.

"We have been communicating with the University of Essex, Cambridge and Oxford in England; Trinity College Dublin University in Ireland, and Harvard University in the United States to work together in improving the fishery school in Wakatobi," Hugua said.

Besides coral reefs conservation school, the underwater laboratory, the international fishery school, a School for Marine Protected Area Management (SMPAM) will also be opened by Maritime Affaris and Fisheries Ministry in Wakatobi.

The ministry`s secretary general Gellwynn Jusuf has said that Japan had committed to provide some Rp70 billion in funds to help finance the project.

The School for Marine Protected Area Management would emphasize the marine sector subjects such as the marine biota diversity, marine conservation, marine energy technology and climate change impact.

In its effort to create professional human resources on marine resources and fisheries, the school`s curriculum would be based on a vocational system and apply factory-teaching field methods, Gellwyn said.

The school would be inline with the local government grand strategy to create Wakatobi as marine Center of Excellence for the marine and tourism sector inside the world`s coral triangle center.

Wakatobi`s existence was known worldwide after around a thousand scientists had done research in the area.

Govt aims to produce 4,000 qualified sailors a year

Arghea Desafti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 05/25/2011

The Transportation Ministry has announced plans to produce 4,000 sailors annually to meet increasing demand.

“We are currently producing 1,500 [graduates] a year from our state-owned sailing academies [STIP]. Hopefully we can increase the number of graduates to 4,000 next year,” Transportation Ministry Education and Training chief Bobby Mamahit said Wednesday at a discussion on improving the quality of human resources in the transportation sector.

Ministry data reveals that Indonesia will require at least 43,800 new sailors over the next five years.

The ministry is currently operating sailing schools in Jakarta, Tangerang, Semarang, Makassar, Surabaya, Barombong and Serang.

“One of the challenges we face is that we are still seeing graduates preferring to work for companies overseas rather than here in [Indonesia]," Bobby said.

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University rectors invited to formulate fisheries curriculum

Overseas marine industries need 10,000 Indonesian workers per year

University rectors invited to formulate fisheries curriculum

Antara News, Mon, May 23 2011

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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammand will invite the rectors of a number of higher learning institutes to discuss the inclusion of maritime and fisheries-related subjects in their teaching programs to make them more compatible with the needs of the labor market.

Fadel Muhammad. (ANTARA)

"I will invite the university rectors to formulate curriculum which are adjusted to the labor market`s needs," the minister said here on Monday.

He said that there were complaints at present the subjects taught in universities were often not fit to the needs for a graduate to face employment.

Adjustment to employment is important for university graduates so that their classifications would meet the need of various companies seeking workers.

"We will invite the rectors on Wednesday to discuss this matter," he said adding that the central board of statistics pointed out there were a total of 8.1 unemployed people.

Some of the unemployed people are within the productive age between 20 and 40 years, he said.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

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Minister, ambassador launch Coral Reef and Climate Change Guide

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 05/20/2011

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad and Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty on Friday launched the Indonesian version of the University of Queensland’s publication Coral Reefs and Climate Change: A Guide for Education and Awareness.

Fadel, working in collaboration with the University of Queensland, had arranged for the book to be translated into Indonesian.

“Australia is widely recognized for its world-class research in environmental sciences. We are pleased that through this book we will be able to contribute and work together in conserving the beautiful reefs of Indonesia,” Moriarty said in a release received by The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The book aims to increase awareness of coral reef science and preservation. It includes recent scientific research with informative images and covers topics including oceanography, coral reef biology and the implications of climate change.

It provides practical tools and recommendations to chart and measure the health of coral reefs and a program to encourage public involvement in reef conservation.

The original publication was launched in Australia in November 2009 and was produced and published by the Coral Watch Foundation at the University of Queensland.

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Maritime International Training Center to be Built in Pangkep

Tempo Interactive, Thursday, 13 January, 2011

TEMPO Interactive, Makassar:A Maritime International Training Center to be built in Pangkep this year will be luxurious and world-class, Saggaf Saleh, the South Sulawesi Manpower and Transmigration Office chief said in Makassar yesterday.

The construction project located in Mandalle sub-district is valued at Rp300 billion. The building will be equipped with supporting equipment for the training. “We will have complete facilities to prepare our manpower to work overseas,” he said.

The training center will have a dormitory with 1,000 rooms for the trainees. The project is fully funded by the state budget and is expected to be completed by 2013. “We are prioritizing the quality, not the quantity,” said Saggaf.

Instructors will also be flown in from the Netherlands, while local instructors will be sent to the Netherlands to improve their skills.

The Takalar Regency previously submitted documents for the building’s construction however, as the land administration was not arranged until the end of 2010, the government relocated it to Pangkep. “It is ready there and close to Makassar,” Saggaf said.

Until 2010, there were 4,850 people from South Sulawesi working overseas, mostly in Malaysia.

According to Saggaf, most South Sulawesi workers are hired as domestic workers or work at cocoa and palm oil plantations. “The technical workers are usually sent to Brunei to work in the oil sector,” he said.

In Saudi Arabia, he continued, around 160 people from South Sulawesi were employed as drivers, cleaners and domestic workers. “We are thankful there are no problems with abuse such as the Sumiati case,” Saggaf said.

This year, another 150,000 workers will be added in South Sulawesi. Therefore, he said, the province needs investors to create job opportunities.

ABD AZIS

Half of Bengkulu`s coral reefs damaged by fish trawls

Antara News, Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - About 40 to 50 percent of Bengkulu province`s coral reefs have been damaged by trawls used by fishermen to catch fish, a local fisheries official said.

"The condition of coral reefs along the coast from Kaur to Mukomuko districts has deteriorated so much dues to the use of trawls by fishermen." Bismalinda, head of Bengkulu`s marine and fisheries office, said here Tuesday.

Most local fishermen were not aware of the adverse consequences of the use of trawls for the marine ecosystem, he said.

The damaging process had been going on for a long time and repairing it would take decades. Meanwhile, the degraded condition of the coral reefs had reduced fish` hauls, especially hauls of reef fish and lobsters along the Bengkulu coasts, he added.

The situation was currently being compounded by uncertain weather conditions which further depressed fishermen`s income, he said,

Coral reef damage was also caused by the use of explosives by the fishermen. The practice killed not only big but also small fishes.

Nowadays, he added, it was difficult for fishermen to catch fish near the coastline and they had to go farther out to sea to get fish while their boats could not do that.

To overcome the problem, local fisheries authorities were continuously informing fishermen of the hazards of using trawls and dynamite to catch fish, he said.

The government was making serious efforts to conserve and rehabilitate the coral reefs but they would succeed only with the participation and awareness of the people to preserve the ecosystem of coral reefs, he said.

Students propose new ideas to conserve sea life

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 11/08/2010 9:21 AM

Three high school student groups won a competition out of 112 teams from across the nation in the 5th Young Innovation Contest with proposals to develop eco-tourism in their respective hometowns.

On Saturday, the contest organizer, Indonesia Institute of Sciences (LIPI) named Ni Wayan Surya Darmayanti, AA Pillar Dy Kusuma and AA Istri Intan Yuniari from state high school SMAN 4 Denpasar, Bali, as the first winners of the contest.

The team highlighted the synergy between local people and tourists in preserving the coral reef ecosystem at Pemuteran village, Singaraja, Bali.

The team said the local people, with their long-rooted traditions like puppet play, could have an important role in preserving local reefs, while the tourists might contribute to the environment through coral reef revitalization program using Biorock, a widely known method to grow coral reef using mineral and electric current.

A Makassar high school team won second prize with their idea to develop tourism on little-known Gusung Island, South Sulawesi.

Geby Oktavia Sari, Fitriyah Dewi Haramaeni and Muh. Amran Permana Putra R. from SMAN 11 Makasar senior high school propose to develop educational tourism.

“Education about coral reef conservation would be an added value for tourism on the island,” Geby said. She said young people would be the main target of the tourism package.

This was expected to bring local people economic and social benefits.

Geby said the government should help the island by building infrastructure like piers and toilets.

A team from Wakatobi regency which recently became famous for its coastal beauty, came in third, also with an eco-tourism concept.

Dewi Sartika, Nining Hariani Ode, and Hasdiman Aludin from SMAN 1 Wangi-Wangi, Wakatobi, proposed to develop Hoga Island in Kaledupa district in Southeast Sulawesi.

Suharsono, the chairman of Oceanograhy Research Center at the institute, said the jury evaluated the papers on originality, the extent of research into the problems, and the way ideas were presented.

Suharsono said the contest was aimed at raising young people’s awareness to use what was available in their environment, to do their best to help preserve nature.

“Coral reefs are the entry point for us to invite them to love the seas,” he said.

LIPI’s data shows that most of the coral reef ecosystems in the country are damaged with only around 30 percent of the total being in a very good or good condition. (lnd)

Environment Watch: Conservation program nurtures love of animal

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta | Fri, 10/01/2010 8:27 AM

Tens of young students from TK ABA kindergarten in Bantul, Yogyakarta, helped release infant turtles into the sea on Goa Cemara beach on Wednesday.

Before the turtles were released, the children were taken to a turtle hatchery set up by residents, who live nearby in Sanden village.

At the hatchery, the children were introduced to the species by Wahadi, chief of the Goa Cemara Beach Tourism Awareness Group.

Wahadi explained in detail about the animal’s life cycle, beginning with when they were eggs, and discussed their role in the ecosystem.

“We hatched the turtles from the eggs found along the beach by residents. We then put them in the hatchery,” he said.

The eggs placed by the residents in the hatchery were then left for 45 days to hatch.

Once hatched, the young turtles, locally known as tukik, were immediately released into the sea. The infants too weak to be released were held by the residents, who will nurture them for about a month before releasing them. The residents finance the program privately.

Wahadi said the hatchery was currently home to 100 turtle eggs, 19 of which had hatched.

“The 19 young turtles were released today. This program is important to make people love animals from an early age,” he said.

He said the turtle conservation program had been started spontaneously when residents launched an environmental program aimed at protecting the beach’s ecosystem in 1994.

The residents, he said, had planted 10 hectares of pine groves behind the beach, prompting residents to rename it Goa Cemara (fir cave) beach.

“In the beginning, the trees were planted to ensure strong winds did not affect coastal plants along the area and as barrier against strong waves,” Wahadi said. “Now, many residents are spending their time relaxing on the beach.”

RI to share knowledge on freshwater fish quality

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 04/19/2010 7:58 PM |

Indonesia will provide technical coaching on handling freshwater fish to representatives of eight Asia Pacific countries, who are coming together to share knowledge to ensure the quality of freshwater fish in each country.

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry will hold the joint International Training Program on Handling Freshwater Pests and Fish Diseases for Asia and Pacific countries in Sukabumi, West Java, on April 20-29, 2010.

There are 11 participants attending the 10-day training program from nine countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Laos, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu and Indonesia.

“The training is not only for technical purposes, but the main goal is to strengthen and enhance cooperation among countries,” the Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Foreign Ministry, Andri Hadi, said Monday.

He added that the cooperation could encompass not only political matters, but also economic, social and cultural matters, through second track diplomacy events, such as the fishery training.

“Fish aquaculture is not only to cultivate a big number of fish, but more to cultivate healthy freshwater fish,” the Director of Fish Health and Environment of The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, Muhammad Murdjani, said. He added that the training is intended to produce safe fish products, which are free from residue.

According to both ministries, Indonesia’s freshwater industry is advanced in providing technical training for other countries.

The training program is a continuation of similar programs held by both ministries in 2009 for participants from Asia, Pacific and African countries. The training included sessions on grouper fish aquaculture at Situbondo, East Java, and shrimp aquaculture training at Jepara, Central Java.

“Sharing experiences in handling freshwater fish diseases is one of the most important tools of the training,” Murdjani told The Jakarta Post. (ipa)

Indonesian sail ship with Indian motifs leaves Kochi

The Hindu, S. ANANDAN

Indonesian Navy's sail training ship KRI Dewaruci in Kochi.

Photo: Special Arrangement

KRI Dewaruci, a sail training ship of Indonesian Navy with very Indian mythological motifs, left the port here on Tuesday for Salalah in Oman after a three-day goodwill visit.

The vessel, on its 37th voyage — Kartika Jala Krida 2010— lasting about nine months, will call at over 30 ports in 21 countries, mostly European, where it will partake in tall ship races. Its chief mission, however, is to impart training to Indonesian Naval Academy cadets in navigation, meteorology, keeping watch and survival at sea.

Having set sail for the current voyage with a crew of 81, including 16 officers, besides 68 cadets during the second week of March from its homeport at Surabaya, the ship docked at Sabang in Western Indonesia before calling at Kochi on Saturday. During the visit, Colonel I Putu Arya Angga S, Indonesia’s Defence Attache in India, along with Lieutenant Colonel S.H. Suharto, Commanding Officer of the ship, called on Rear Admiral S.S. Jamwal, Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command.

Post-sunset on Monday, at a reception accorded to Indian Navy personnel and a select group of media persons aboard the Dewaruci (seemingly an adaptation of the Sanskrit Devarshi, Guru of the Gods)—named after the God of honesty and bravery — the sailors of the ship showcased a slice of Indonesian culture. The vessel, as the cultural ambassador of Indonesia, has its masts christened after the great Pandavas of the Mahabharata: ‘Yudhistira’, ‘Bima’ and ‘Arjuna’, indicative of the influence Indian legends and myths have had in shaping Java’s philosophy.

Dewaruci was built in 1952 and commissioned the very next year. On Monday, the grand dame’s sailors doubled up as artistes presenting Rantak dance, a traditional martial art-based dance from West Sumatra; War dance, about the story of a warrior from Papua; Badinding dance, which is a show of hospitality; and Rampak Gendang, a traditional percussion ensemble. What stole the show, however, was the most wonderful and bewitching Seni Reog Ponorogo, an East Javanese ethnic dance akin to north-Kerala’s Theyyam. It depicts a mythological, headgear-wearing-beast-in-trance casting off the evil forces in combat.

After the cultural show, Rear Admiral Jamwal congratulated the Indonesian sailors and recalled the historical association India had had with Indonesia.

“During the current voyage, Dewaruci will partake in the historical seas tall ships regatta in Turkey and Greece, the tall ships race 2010 in Aalborg in Denmark, the sail festival Amsterdam in Netherlands, the sail festival Bremenhaven in Germany and the ‘festival internationale Mediterraneo e Velieri in Italy. Besides India, it will visit countries like Oman, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Tunisia, Nigeria, Spain, France, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Cyprus, and Sri Lanka,” said Lt Col Suharto.

Talking to The Hindu on ‘Ind-Indo Corpat’, Col Angga termed the coordinated patrol carried out by the Indian and Indonesian Navies along the International Maritime Boundary Line a grand success.

KRI Dewaruci

UNHAS Students Launch Speed Boat

Tempo Interactive, Thursday, 18 March, 2010 | 17:42 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Makassar:The shipping engineering students of Hasanuddin University’s (Unhas) Technical Faculty had not been creating boats for some time, but in the past two years they began work at producing them. Last year they created a sail boat. This time they launched a speed boat.

Five students who created it one month ago, called it the Cab Over Hydro, a five-meter long speed boat. It looks like a speedboat with a sharp front.

Team leader Zulfikar said the boat, built in the Shipping Engineering workshop, used calculations integrating the theories on ship engineering as well as stability and hydrostatics.

This is the first engine-powered boat created by South Sulawesi students. The boat uses a 2,5 horse-power engine assembled with a propeller and a steering wheel. According to Zulfikar, the engine belongs to the Ship Engineering Faculty and has often been used for practical study sessions.

The Cab Over Hydro can be used in the sea or lakes. “We have tested it on the sea and fresh water areas,” Zulfikar said. The boat can carry eight people.

The boat is made of multiplex and fiber. Zulfikar said this is the real form of the ship’s miniature and is kerosene-generated.

The Class of 2007 students said the ship can only be operated offshore because it cannot resist big waves. However, it can go as far as Lae Lae Island, off the Losari coast.

Zulfikar hopes that the Cab Over Hydro will motivate other engineering students to create more advanced boats and useful applications for the public.

The Cab Over Hydro is an application of theory and field practice.

SUKMAWATI