Sulawesi's Tomini Gulf 'badly in need of protection'

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

Tomini Gulf is one of the biggest bays in Indonesia, bordering 13 regencies in the Gorontalo and Central Sulawesi provinces.

The bay hosts 56 islands -- called the Togean Islands -- which are spread over 90 kilometers at the center of Tomini gulf.

Among them are six big islands including Batulada, Talatakoh, Togean, Una-Una, Waleabahi and Waleakodi.

The others include beautiful, small islands surrounding the six larger ones and all are continually visited by European tourists.

Based on a biodiversity zone division, Tomini Gulf is located in the Wallacea zone -- which is historically separate from Asian and Australian continents.

The name Wallacea is after the English researcher Alfred Russel Wallace, who explored eastern Indonesia in 1854-1862.

The bay is famous for its underwater beauty and is perceived as a heaven for divers -- it's said to be a home to many coral reefs and various colorful species of fish.

Parigi Moutong Regent Longky Djanggola recently told The Jakarta Post that in 2003 former president Megawati Soekarnoputri declared Tomini Gulf the gate of "Mina Bahari".

Parigi said the gulf area was a mainstay for increasing state income, as well as for providing more jobs for local people.

The Sulawesi Regional Development Cooperation Office, or Badan Kerjasama Pembangunan Regional (BKPRS), reported however that some gulfs in Sulawesi, including Tomini Gulf, had been damaged by excessive development.

The damaged areas reported included coral reefs, mangrove forests and the banks of rivers that emptied into the Tomini Gulf.

The most obvious damage could be found in Togean Island National Park in Tojo Una-Una regency, Central Sulawesi, said the BKPRS.

Data from the provincial planning board indicated 8.7 percent of coral reefs, 4.6 percent of algae and 5.11 percent of mangrove forests had been damaged.

Tojo Una-Una Regent Damsik Ladjalani said the damage was caused by illegal fishing and local habits that included throwing garbage into the sea.

And he said this was despite efforts by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which has declared Tomini Gulf one of world's treasures in need of protection because it has valuable marine assets.

The Central Sulawesi administration reported the local sea produced about 330,000 tons of fish each year, of which 214,000 tons was processed annually.

Fishermen seek pelagis fish, tuna and oil (cakalang) fish, along with shrimp, seaweed, sea cucumbers and pearls.

Batam sees rosy shipyard business

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam

The Transportation Ministry has said Batam Island in Riau province has the potential to cash in as a center for the shipyard industry, especially given the high cost of building and repairing ships in Europe and elsewhere in Asia.

Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said Friday Batam's shipyard industry had three advantages over other shipyard centers both here and abroad.

Batam has skilled workers and the technology to produce ships at competitive prices, he said at the launching of the MV United Ocean coal ship produced by PT Trikarya Alam Shipyard in Batam.

"We also see the shipyard business in European and other Asian countries is declining due to high operational costs.

"Batam (can seize the opportunity), taking over ship-making orders...."

To support the development of Batam's shipyard industry, Jusman said his ministry would work to ease permit procedures.

"We are very happy when a ship is built by Indonesians, flies the Indonesian flag and is operated in Indonesia. Batam has a great opportunity to be able to do that," he added.

He said his office was meeting with shipyard businessmen in Batam to better understand the obstacles the industry faces related to his ministry's authority.

"Many in the industry complain the permit process is too slow. We plan to ease permit procedures in the future to help the industry here develop," Jusman said.

Riau Governor Ismeth Abdullah said his administration planned to set up a taskforce to deal with shipyard-related problems.

The move would help the booming industry, especially in Batam, Bintan and Karimun islands, he said.

He added the taskforce would be directly supervised by the transportation minister, and if a problem was serious enough it could be reported directly to the President.

Some 80 shipyard companies operate in Batam, Bintan and Karimun islands with a total investment of around US$1 billion.

Sixty-one companies are located in Batam, 15 in Bintan and four in Karimun.

"Civil servants trying to blackmail or otherwise hinder the industry's growth in Batam, Bintan or Karimun will be fired," Ismeth said.

According to the Batam Shipyard Offshore Association, the three islands were a preferred relocation site for shipyard businesses from Singapore.

Singapore reportedly plans to restrict the expansion of its shipyard industry due to environmental considerations.

The association's secretary, Kusmareni, said one of the problems faced by shipyard companies in Batam was accusations by non-government organizations the industry damages the environment

."The accusations turn us into an target, being asked for money by a local NGO under allegations of damaging the environment. We want the local government to pay attention to the problem," she said.

RI, Brunei navies end joint exercise

Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian and Brunei navies ended a week-long joint military exercise codenamed "Helang Laut-10A/07" in East Java on Friday.

The exercise which involved 20 Indonesian naval officers and 18 Brunei naval officers focused on procedures and tactics of sea surface war, electronic war and anti submarine war, Col Asep Burhanudin, deputy chief of the exercise command at the Eastern Indonesian Fleet Command, said when closing the exercise.

In the exercise, the two navies conducted a joint sea patrol to safeguard sea lanes and protect each other`s national interests, he said.

Five warships consisting of three from the Indonesian Navy and two from the Brunei Navy took part in the exercise. The Indonesian warships were KRI Malahayati-362, KRI Singa-651 and KRI Badik-623, while the Brunei warships were KDB Waspada and KDB Satria.

Asep said the exercise was aimed at improving the professionalism of the two navies as well as at fostering their friendly relations.

Ship Investment Increases in Special Economic Zones

Friday, 16 November, 2007 | 17:38 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Batam: Riau Islands Governor, Ismeth Abdullah, said that foreign investment in ships is increasing, especially in special economic zones (SEZs), Batam, Bintan and Karimun.

So far the Riau Islands government recorded that investment was US$1 billion. In Karimun, the preparation for welcoming a Korean investor, who will invest US$500 million, is taking place. The company is a consortium which built the largest dockyard in Southeast Asia, able to absorb 40,000 workers.

Ismeth explained, Karimun will be transformed into a shipyard industry area, as it has an adequate sea depth as well as a competitive land lease.

According to Ismeth, in Bintan there are five ship industry companies investing, 15 in Karimun; Batam is for the industry development.

Batam Authority Chief, Mustofa Wijaya,, said there are 71 companies in the ship industry in his territory. Out of that number, 80 percent are located in Tanjung Uncang, and the remaining in Sekupang. As in Rempang and Galang Islands, it will be decided later as the areas are specific for tourism. “But the shipyard industry is still possible,” he said.

Mustofa acknowledged that the land for the shipyard industry in Batam is no longer available except for development. Out of 255,000 workers in Batam, 75,000 are working in the ship industry and the remaining in the electronics industry in 23 industrial zones.

Rumbadi Dalle

Greenpeace activists block Indonesian palm oil shipment to protest rain forest destruction

The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA (AP): Environmental activists are blockading a shipment of palm oil from Indonesia to protest the destruction of rain forests that they say goes hand in hand with the planting of the crop.

With a banner reading "Palm Oil Kills Forests and Climate," Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior was anchored next to an India-bound palm oil tanker at Dumai port on Sumatra island, the group said in a statement Friday.

Activists maintain the crop is planted on forest land cleared by fires that unleash millions of tons of carbon dioxide - a greenhouse gas. They say this defeats the purpose of developing palm-based biodiesel fuel as a renewable source of energy that does not contribute to greenhouse gases.

"The logging, draining and burning of Indonesia's peat land forests releases a massive amount of stored carbon back to the atmosphere," said Sue Connor, Greenpeace International forests campaigner. "That is why we're here."

The protest comes three weeks before scientists and government ministers from around the world were set to meet on the Indonesian island of Bali to come up with ways to slow the pace of global warming.

The blockade of the ship laden with 33,000 metric tons of palm oil began on Thursday, Greenpeace said.

Developers in Indonesia have been planting vast tracts of oil palms to tap into a surge in global demand for biofuels.

They say the planting is taking place on long-since deforested land, but green activists allege that pristine forests are being chopped down and torched to make way for the crop.

Greenpeace claimed the exporter, Permata Hijau Sawit, had sourced palm oil from companies involved in the destruction of rain forests and the starting of forest fires on Sumatra. It was not immediately possible to contact the company for comment on those claims.

A Greenpeace spokesman said police had not attempted to end the blockade.

Indonesia was aiming to export 17 million metric tons of palm oil in 2007, according to government statistics.

Marine sector 'holds future of tourism'

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The future of tourism in Indonesia revolves around the promotion of coastal areas and the involvement of local communities in environmental conservation efforts, a marine tourism official said Thursday.

Currently a mere 10 percent of foreign and domestic tourists visit coastal areas in Indonesia, despite widespread international recognition of the country's marine attractions, the secretary general of the Indonesian Marine Tourism Association, Didien Junaedy, said.

He said the natural environment was the key draw card in such areas and that any developments made to attract tourists should not have a negative impact on the environment.

"That is why marine tourism should not be designed or developed to become mass tourism. If we made it similar to land-based tourism, which is mainly mass-based, it would be very difficult to maintain the environment," he said at a discussion on improving marine tourism.

He said in order to develop Indonesia's marine tourism sector in an eco-friendly way, the government would need to have a very sound regional design plan, which prioritized environmental conservation in coastal areas.

"The government must be able to control development, even if it means a quota is placed on the daily number of tourists allowed to visit certain areas," he said.

Didien said Indonesia could easily compete with other countries around the world in terms of marine tourism.

"The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is nothing compared to the reefs in the Wakatobi Islands, which is the longest atoll in the world. And Raja Ampat in Papua can easily beat the Caribbean Islands."

Deputy regent of the Thousand Islands regency Abdul Rahman said preserving the environment and improving infrastructure were crucial aspects of developing the tourism sector.

"We are still striving to bring electricity to the Thousand Islands. We have already built underwater cable connections for the purpose.

"At the moment people use generators that run for about 15 hours, which is very inefficient and also produces a lot of pollution," Abdul said, adding that a longer airstrip had also been built in the regency.

He said tourism in the Thousand Islands regency had contributed to a reduction in poverty in the area.

"People are not only benefiting from tourism economically, but they have also become more environmentally aware and they realize the islands' economic potential depends on the environment." (uwi)

US `reconnaissance` boat moors at Bali port

Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - A US `reconnaissance` boat, GeoExplorer, has been moored in South Benoa port, Bali, since Thursday, Adj Comm Gusti Arbawa of Benoa`s Water Police Directorate General, said here on Friday.

He said he believed the US patrol boat which arrived in Bali on Thursday was likely to help monitor security conditions in the runup to the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bali on December 3-14, 2007.

"We have no idea what the real tasks and functions the US boat will carry out here," he said.

The boat was equipped with sophisticated devices to detect security threats in the runup to the arrival of US President George W Bush in the Indonesian tourist resort island of Bali.

But one of GeoExplorer`s crew members, Sudett, said the boat was sent not to carry out a reconnaissance mission. "The boat will only carry out scientific surveys, namely oil deposits on land and in the sea," he said adding that the boat`s skipper was Mike.

In the meantime, security officers were optimizing their preparations to ensure that the UNFCCC would run smoothly.

Water police officers were mobilizing four patrol boats and two NBO-150 helicopters.

The Police Headquarters will send 300 units of four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles to strengthen security measures during the UNFCCC event.

RI asks A`lia to treat its fishermen better

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has asked Australia to treat its traditional fishermen who had been caught tresspassing that country`s territory while fishing better.

"We respect their sovereignty and law but they must also treat our fishermen more humanely," the chief executive of the Sea Security Coordinating Body (Bakorkamla), Rear Admiral Djoko Sumaryono, said here on Wednesday.

He said after meeting chief of the Australian Border Security Command, Commodore James Goldirk, that many Indonesian traditional fishermen were not familiar with international rules particularly in border areas.

"They do not speak English. They have had minimum education because they live in coastal areas," he said.

He said Indonesia had also asked the Australian government for information on legal process in case of border violations.

"Many of our fishermen do not know why they are arrested. That is because they did not realize that tresspassing the border is illegal. Therefore it would be better if the Australian government would give them proper legal aid," he said.

In response to this, James Goldirk said a mechanism had been made available for helping the Indonesian fishermen.

"We have even cooperated with the Indonesia government to assure that the fishermen are treated well," he said.

He said the Australian government had also given legal aid to those who had met the requirements. "So not all fishermen get legal aid. But we always talk with the Indonesian government on how we could help the fishermen," he said.

He admitted Australia and Indonesia had made efforts to give the fishermen knowledge about Australian law and the two countries` border regions.

"It seems the efforts were successful because the number of fishermen arrested continues to drop. Meanwhile we always tried to deport the fishermen that we have caught as soon as possible, while the legal process is continuing," he said.

Goldrik said only a few fishermen were actually jailed, and facing no charges were immediately sent home.

According to data of the Ausralian embassy here a total of 359 Indonesian-flagged boats were caught in 2006 for poaching Australian territorial waters.

Until April this year Australia had caught 26 Indonesian fishing boats.

Successful Joint Malaysia-Indonesia Maritime Operation

ALOR STAR, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- A 10-day coordinated operation by Malaysian and Indonesian enforcement agencies in the Straits of Melaka codenamed "Ops Patkor Optima", which ended yesterday, had achieved its objectives.

Ops Patkor Optima director, Commander Wan Burhanuddin Jusoh said the Malaysian enforcement agencies detained three of 108 vessels they inspected under the Fisheries Act 1985 and Immigration Act 1959.

The Indonesian agencies, meanwhile, detained two of 455 vessels they checked under the Fisheries Act, he said in a statement here today.

However, the statement did not state where the vessels were registered.

The annual joint operation was aimed at maintaining peace and security in the Straits of Melaka to prevent piracy, smuggling and activities which contravene the maritime law.

Wan Burhanuddin said it was also aimed at improving the security and confidence of vessels plying the Straits of Melaka that the Malaysian and Indonesian authorities could ensure their safety.

Seven ships and four aircraft from the Malaysian enforcement agencies and eight ships and one aircraft from the Indonesian side with a total 450 personnel took part in the operation.

The Malaysian enforcement agencies involved were the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Royal Malaysian Air Force, marine police, police's air wing, Customs, Fisheries Department, Marine Department, Immigration Department, Department of Environment, and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.

The Indonesian agencies involved were the Indonesian armed forces, navy, Directorate General of Customs and Excise, coast guard, police and Immigration Department.

The operation was launched at the Indonesian naval base (Lantamal) by Lantamal 1 First Admiral Al Sadiman SE at Belawan, Sumatra on Nov 1.

Malaysian Maritime Coordination and Enforcement Centre director, First Admiral Datuk Pahlawan Mohd Rashid Harun closed the operation in Langkawi today.

Bali to build new cruise ship port

Wasti Atmodjo, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

The Bali provincial administration plans to build a special port for cruise ships at Labuan Amuk in Karangasem in a bid to help boost tourism on the resort island, an official says.

Putu Ardana, head of the Bali Transportation Office, said the infrastructure costs for the port project would be covered by funds from the state budget amounting to Rp 130 billion (US$14,400).

The project is expected to be completed in 2009, he said, adding the port would be designed to accommodate large-scale single or double-deck cruise ships measuring 360 meters by 50 meters.

"The completion and operation of the port will constitute the first cruise ship port in Indonesia," said Karangasem's transportation office head, Nengah Parwata.

The first stage of the project is currently underway, he said.

Putu said Labuan Amuk was considered to be the best location for the construction of the new port as it was near a deep sea lane.

Ardana compared it with Benoa harbor, another alternative location.

"In Benoa, the water is too shallow and it would be too difficult to dredge. In Labuan Amuk, there is no need to dredge," he added.

He added the infrastructure currently being built included office buildings, a berth, terminal, health and security posts, immigration office and other supporting facilities.

According to Karangasem Tourism Office data, a number of cruise ships frequently made stops at Padang Bai Port, near Labuan Amuk Port, en route to Lembar Port in Lombok.

One such cruise ship is the Costa Marina, which berthed there on Feb. 4 and 5, 2007, transporting about 772 passengers.

Next month, a cruise ship with as many as 2,000 passengers and another with 684 passengers is expected to berth there, while next year three other cruise ships - the Amsterdam, Black Watch and Silver Whisperalso plan to berth in Bali.

Parwata said cruise ship passengers were usually senior citizens. Using small boats they land at Karangasem for one or two days.

"Some of them visit Karangasem and surrounding areas, including Besakih, Candidasa and others. Several others go to Ubud or Kuta," he said.

Parwata said in order to support the port project, the Karangasem regency administration had cleared a 1.5-hectare plot of land. The surrounding areas, which consisted mostly of agricultural land, had also been blocked to prevent any alterations, he said.

Compensation was still being negotiated, he added.

The Bali Tourism Alliance has hailed the project.

"We support it because it will diversify our tourist arrivals," said the alliance's coordinator Gusti Kade Sutawa. He urged the provincial administration to carefully prepare its spatial planning to avoid unexpected impacts.

Kade Sutawa also proposed the preparation of professional human resources to help introduce Bali to the passengers.

"Local people will be appropriate in these positions as they know a lot about Bali."

Parwata added the many cruise ships that berth in Padang Bai or Benoa usually did so to refuel or get supplies. With the operation of the new port, the cruise ships would be able to drop off and pick up passengers from Bali. Travel agents would be able to arrange travel arrangements from the port as well, he said.

Up until now, passengers wishing to enjoy the beauty of the eastern parts of Indonesia have been forced to board cruise ships in other countries, like Singapore.

"With the operation of the port, tourists can fly to Bali and enjoy Balinese culture before boarding the cruise ships or vice versa," Parwata said.

With the completion of the port project, Bali will be able to obtain additional income. The use of transportation services and accommodation will surely increase too, he said.

From Bali the cruise ships could go eastward, for example to Lombok, Fores, Alor, Sulawesi and Papua, Parwata said, adding the port would also benefit these other regions.

20 Indonesians sailors rescued off eastern China

The Jakarta Post

BEIJING (AP): A Chinese fishing boat rescued 20 Indonesian sailors after their ship sank off eastern China, but 11 Chinese fishermen were still missing after their boat sank in a separate accident, state media reported Monday.

Xinhua News Agency said the 20 crewmen were rescued after their Panama-registered ship sank early Sunday off the coast of Zhejiang province. Their ship was going from Papua New Guinea to Jiangsu province with a load of wood, and sailors were rescued by a Chinesefishing boat, Xinhua said.

The rescue came as 11 Chinese fishermen were reported missing and presumed dead after their boat sank after hitting a cargo ship, also off the coast of Zhejiang province.

Xinhua said it was not known if the two accidents were connected.

Only the captain of the fishing boat survived, Xinhua said. It gave no other details.

Unpad opens fisheries research center

BANDUNG (The Jakarta Post): Padjadjaran University (Unpad) held a seminar on the Strategy for Sustainable Fishery and Marine Development as part of the inauguration event for its new fisheries and tropical ocean research center.

The head of the National Development Planning Board, Pazkah Suzetta, delivered the seminar's keynote speech.

Also speaking at the event were fisheries and marine research head Indroyono Soesilo of the Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Ministry, and Bayu Krisnamurthi, agriculture and maritime deputy under the Coordinating Minister for the Economy.

The fishery and marine seminar aimed to improve public and student awareness on the importance of the fisheries and maritime sector in developing the national economy.

Sunda Strait Festival not affected by Krakatau`s activities

Bandarlampung (ANTARA News) - The Sunda Strait Festival which will be held to celebrate the 51st anniversary of South Lampung district will not be affected by Krakatau lesser`s volcanic activities, a local official has said.

"There is no official information about prohibition to hold events including shipping activities on the Sunda Strait due to Krakatau lesser`s activities so that the festival remains to be held," spokesman for the South Lampung district administration, Sugiarto, said here Sunday.

The festival will have many activities and most of them will take place on the sea like a swimming contest to cross the 38-kilometer long strait and a traditional rowing competition on November 30, 2007, as well as a jet ski exhibition and parachuting attraction on December 1.

"The cross-country competition on Mt Rajabasa will be held on November 12, and a 10-K race on November 13," he said.

E. Kalimantan cities seen as gateways for trafficking

Nurni Sulaiman and Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post, Balikpapan, Jambi

Tarakan and Nunukan are the two East Kalimantan cities most likely to be used as gateways for human trafficking because of their proximity to Tawau, a ferry port in Sabah, eastern Malaysia, a high-ranking police officer said.

"Nunukan and Tarakan are two border areas close to Tawau, and most of the illegal migrants cross over from these two cities by ferry," East Kalimantan Police spokesman Wayan Tjatra told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Nunukan recorded a higher incidence of human trafficking than Tarakan. As of November this year, police in Nunukan had uncovered nine cases involving 11 victims between the ages of 15 and 22.

Three of the victims, Risa, 16, Warianti, 22, and Sriyanti, 17, all from South Sulawesi, became suspicious while still in Nunukan after being told they were not allowed to leave the house and heard they would be sold in Tawau using fake border passes.

They ran away and reported the incident to police.

Maryati, and Maria, both 19, Yunita, 17, and Musyarofah, 20, were not as fortunate. A human trafficking syndicate smuggled them into Tawau, where they were sold as sex workers.

The syndicate initially told them they would work as shop assistants in East Kalimantan.

More than 30 similar cases have been reported in Tarakan and Nunukan since 2005.

A person can ferry to Tawau from either city for Rp 250,000 (approximately US$27.70). From Tawau, he or she can continue overland to almost any city in eastern Malaysia.

According to Wayan, human trafficking activities are difficult to monitor due to the close-knit nature of the trafficking syndicate and the relatively simple procedures necessary to obtain border passes.

Police have identified 15 suspects involved in nine trafficking cases, but four of them are still at large.

The East Kalimantan Police say they will assign more officers to its posts in Tarakan and Nunukan to combat the problem.

Separately, the Jambi City Police, in Sumatra's Jambi province, took into custody two individuals suspected of human trafficking.

The men were identified as Bambang, 40, and Hadi, 45. They allegedly tried to smuggle 103 Indonesian workers to Malaysia.

"They were both arrested in Jambi on Oct. 31 when they were about to send 103 illegal migrant workers from Jember, Tuban and Madura Island in East Java, to Malaysia. The workers -- 51 women and 52 men -- all returned to their homes on Nov. 2," Jambi City Police chief Sr. Comr. E Daniyanto said.

The suspects have been placed under city arrest.

"We have not detained them in our prison because they have promised not to flee. Both suspects have also been cooperative during the investigation," he said.

Both suspects confessed to sending illegal workers abroad on a regular basis, he added.

Fishermen net rounds of ammunition

The Jakarta Post

Five fishermen found more than a hundred rounds of live ammunition at Mamboro beach, North Palu, on Thursday.

They found 104 5.56 mm caliber rounds and seven .38 mm rounds.

The five fishermen, Israel, 35, Raisman, 32, Larry, 29, Ispan, 28, and Jimmy, 32, found the ammunition before fishing in Mamboro, a coastal area some 12 kilometers from Palu.

Israel found the first bullet while searching for snails to use as bait. The four others then began finding more ammunition nearby.

"We finally stopped searching for snails and started looking for more bullets. We were so surprised to find 111 bullets," Israel told The Jakarta Post.

The fishermen reported their discovery to the police's elite Mobile Brigade, located three kilometers from the beach.

"To tell you the truth, we are quite terrified to find so many bullets in one location," Israel said.

Head of the North Palu Police, Adj. Comr. Sirajuddin Ramli, said the police questioned the fishermen and examined the site.

"We are running intensive investigations to find the owner of the ammunition," he said.

Fugro receives Australia, Indonesia seismic work

Energycurrent.com, Filed from Aberdeen 11/6/2007 1:52:04 PM GMT

NETHERLANDS: Netherlands-based Fugro has been awarded two contracts for 3-D marine seismic surveys in Australia and Indonesia and received a letter of intent for another seismic contract in Indonesia. The total contract value is US$68.5 million.

Fugro has been awarded a 1,700 square kilometre (656 square mile) 3-D seismic survey for ConocoPhilips in Australia. Fugro's seismic vessel Geo Atlantic will undertake the two-month project offshore northwestern Australia beginning later this month.

In addition, a further letter of award was agreed upon with ConocoPhilips, and a letter of intent was received from StatoilHydro, each for a 3-D seismic survey in Indonesia.

These contracts cover two neighbouring blocks with a total area of 3,500 square kilometres (1,351 square miles). The vessel Geo Atlantic will take on the work after the Australian survey. All the surveys will be undertaken with a 10 streamer spread.

RI warships to secure Bali waters for UN climate change confab

Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) will deploy a few of its warships in the waters around Bali to strengthen maritime security for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference scheduled to take place on the resort island Dec 1-14, 2007, a spokesman said.

"The TNI AL will surely deploy some of its warships to secure the waters around Bali as thousands of foreign delegates will attend the conference," chief of the Indonesian Navy`s Eastern Fleet Command`s information service Lt Col Toni Syaiful said here Friday.

But he stopped short of revealing the number of warships to be involved in the security maintenance effort.

"The TNI AL has a number of fast patrol ships which can be easily used to secure the waters," he said.

In securing Bali island waters, the TNI AL would coordinate with the water and air police and the sea and coast guard unit, he said.

"We hope the event which will involve other countries will run smoothly because it is related with Indonesia`s image in the eyes of the world community," he said.

The conference which will seek to lay the groundwork for a new climate deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol will bring together about 15,000 participants from 168 countries. The Kyoto Protocol will expire in 2012.

Sharks lure tourists to islands

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Jepara

"That's amazing! I can't believe I'm looking at sharks with my own eyes. Until now I've only seen them on TV," said Ratna.

Ratna, a girl from Banjarnegara in Central Java, had just arrived at a shark breeding facility on Menjangan Besar island some 90 kilometers from Jepara, Central Java.

The facility, owned and operated by Satmoko, has two shark pools located on the beach that are open to the public. An attractive stone barrier separates the large, naturalistic pools from the ocean. Bushy corals and a variety of other marine life thrive here.

However, Ratna decided not to take a dip. In one pool there were 20 adult black sharks, many 1.5 meters long. Swimming alongside them in the second pool there were 30 baby white sharks.

"I have been running this facility for 20 years, so its much older than Karimun National Park," said Satmoko, referring to the protected status of the islands.

He told The Jakarta Post it all started as a hobby and because of his fondness for sharks and other sea creatures.

To populate the aquarium, Satmoko, a former fisherman, purchased some baby sharks that were caught near the island. Satmoko's partner Ismiyati and two assistants help him run the aquarium.

The shark hatchery isn't a business enterprise, he explained. So, it's open to the public and there is no charge. "I don't receive a cent. I'm just happy that people can visit and enjoy the sharks and the environment."

Everyone who visits the nursery gets to see sharks close up. True thrill seekers are allowed to enter the pools and swim with the massive fish.

Besides sharks, Satmoko also breeds clown fish, tiger fish, rainbow fish and various other decorative species.

Ismiyati said the facility required up to 20 kilograms of fish per day to feed the sharks.

Satmoko and Ismiyati financed the facility themselves. They said they were willing to provide young sharks to individuals or institutions interested in shark breeding.

"I don't set a price (on hatchlings). I just need enough money to cover delivery costs," he said, adding that he had just sold a 40 centimeter shark to a buyer in Pati, Central Java for Rp 800,000.

The facility also recently provided a three-meter white shark to Sea World in Ancol, Jakarta.

Satmoko said he hoped the facility would play a role in luring visitors to the island chain.

"I hope they will have a wonderful time and share their experience -- the beauty of Karimun Jawa -- with friends back home. Hopefully, this will increase the number of visitors."

The island is one of 27 in the protected island chain and boasts picturesque landscapes and relatively little environmental damage. Only four islands are inhabited.

Visitors to Karimun Jawa can go swimming, sunbathing, fishing and diving.

Minister goes to the docks, likes what she sees

Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Irked by the customs service's long-tainted image as a hotbed of corruption and poor service, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati took herself down to the docks to see how things have improved -- or worsened, as the case may be.

During an impromptu inspection of Tanjung Priok Port on Thursday, the minister -- to her satisfaction -- witnessed customs officers intercept a shipment of three luxury cars -- a Ferrari, a Lamborghini and a Rolls Royce Phantom -- worth Rp 11.8 billion (US$1.3 million) that were imported illegally through the misuse of diplomatic permits.

In recent months, the customs service at Tanjung Priok has also intercepted 117 commercial vehicles and used trucks that were improperly described on the customs documents as ambulances.

Other contraband involved 112 containers of banned bone meal worth Rp 5 billion, and thousands of gas cylinders -- which have recently been in the spotlight in relation to the government's gas conversion program.

There was also an attempt to illegally export 30 containers of unprocessed timber and rattan worth Rp 23 billion.

The interceptions and seizures represent the initial results of the reform of the Tanjung Priok customs office since it was designated in April as a pilot project as part of the Finance Ministry's latest effort to overhaul the service.

The ministry recently rescreened 4,000 of its 11,000 customs officials, with only 1,800 been reappointed to the service. It then recruited new officers, with some 800 of these currently assigned to Tanjung Priok Port.

"All institutions are prone to abuse of power, corruption, and other unscrupulous practices. But if we just talk about stopping it without doing anything, then nothing will actually happen," Sri Mulyani said.

"Cleaning up and beefing up Tanjung Priok is the first step for the customs service. Things should be better with new people and a new sense of integrity."

Sri Mulyani also referred to efforts to rescreen and reregister all customs clearance firms as most appeared to be deeply involved in bribery and smuggling.

Many regard the customs service as being among the most corrupt institutions in the country, along with the tax service, which also comes under the authority of the Finance Ministry.

A recent survey by the University of Indonesia's LPEM economic think tank revealed how the scale of illegal fees charged by customs officials had increased, while services were perceived as having improved, indicating that people may simply be paying for better service.

The reform program for the customs service also includes expediting clearance at the country's ports to between 20 minutes and 4 hours, if inspection is needed.

Sri Mulyani said that similar, reformed customs offices would be set up at Indonesia's other ports so as to prevent smuggling and corruption being transferred to those ports after Tanjung Priok had been cleaned up.

Regarding Thursday's attempted smuggling of luxury cars, Sri Mulyani said that her ministry was working with the Foreign Ministry to tighten up the procedures for the use of diplomatic permits.

Since 2003, customs have seized 208 luxury cars -- 43 this year alone -- with all of them being associated with the same suppliers in Singapore.

Zero tolerance for illegal fishing: Australia

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

Despite mounting public outcry in Indonesia, the Australian government is adamant about continuing its zero-tolerance approach toward Indonesian fishermen caught in its waters.

Australia's ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer reiterated here Wednesday his government's stance on illegal fishing.

The country's laws specifically target fishermen using modern boats and industrial-grade fishing equipment.

When fishermen are caught violating Australian maritime laws, authorities generally sink their boats and destroy their equipment, Farmer said.

"However, fishermen using traditional boats and equipment are still allowed to fish in Australian waters ... specifically designated for that purpose," he said.

In 2006, Australian authorities apprehended a total of 359 ships belonging to Indonesian fishermen. In 2005, the number of crews caught violating the country's maritime laws numbered 279.

Farmer said in 2006, the Australian parliament ratified a law providing legal grounds for authorities to imprison foreign fishermen violating Australian laws.

Indonesian fishermen caught fishing in Australian waters face prison sentences of up to three years as well as the equivalent of a Rp 6.1 billion fine.

"We need to work together to ensure the sustainability of fisheries resources on both sides of the border," he said, adding that illegal fishing was a common problem that cost the Australian and Indonesian economies millions of dollars each year.

The Ambassador is currently leading a delegation of embassy officials visiting East Nusa Tenggara to strengthen cooperation in the region and inspect a number of Australian aid projects.

On Thursday morning, Farmer is scheduled to officially open a junior high school Australia funded in Nunkurus village, 50 kilometers east of Kupang.

The school is one of 2,000 schools the Australian government plans to build in the country as part of a Rp 2.5 trillion program aimed at creating 330,000 new junior high school places by mid-2009.

In recent years in Nunkurus, elementary school graduates were unable to continue their education as the nearest junior high school was more than five kilometers away with no public transport available.

Between November 9 and 11, Farmer will visit Rote Island to educate coastal communities about the Australian government's new laws on illegal fishing.

Australian Customs officials joined forces with Indonesian Fisheries officials last month to conduct groundbreaking coordinated patrols along the maritime borders of both countries in an effort to prevent illegal fishing and other transnational crimes.

PNG to develop major tuna processing centre

Port Moresby (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Papua New Guinea (PNG) plans to make the country the tuna capital of the world by developing a multi-million kina Madang Marine Park to process Pacific catch, reports The National.

It has identified an 860-acre site at Vidar, outside Madang. The government believes that apart from increasing revenue 10-fold, the project will also create jobs for Papua New Guineans and other Pacific islanders.

PNG's Commerce, Trade and Industry Department, which is developing the concept closely with the Fisheries Authority and industry players, estimates that the project will cost about K100 million (US$36.3 million).

Somali pirates free two vessels

BBC News

Somali pirates have released two South Korean-owned fishing boats held since May in waters off the Horn of Africa.

The two boats and their 24 Asian crew members were escorted to safe waters by the US navy.

US naval personnel later boarded the vessels and gave the crew medical check-ups, said a US spokeswoman, Cdr Lydia Robertson.

The South Korean foreign ministry says the boats are now heading for Yemen and that the crew members are safe.

The crew members include 10 Chinese, four South Koreans, three Vietnamese, three Indians and four Indonesians.

Cdr Robertson said the US navy was also urging pirates on three other ships to leave the vessels and return to Somalia.

The waters off Somalia's coast lie close to crucial shipping lanes and are notorious for piracy.

The joy of fishing

Arief Suhardiman, The Jakarta Post

Sixty fishers from the fishyforum mailing list, most have never met each other before, gathered on Peucang island in Banten. The spirit of fishing united the fishers, whom consisted of beginners to experts (hardcore).

They are made up of 30 fishers in a speedboat and four wooden vessels while the rest on land of the Peucang island.

Fishers conducted almost of the technical aspects of fishing, such as trolling, jigging, popping, casting, drifting and bottom fishing.

For two days, they have caught various fish, such as Baronang (Rabbitfish), Kerapu (grouper), Barracuda, Tenggiri (Spanish Mackerel), Tuna and Giant Trevally.

On the first day at the area of Karang Copong and Karang Ajar, they caught tens of fish, which were enough to feed all of the crew. The next day, fishers at Noah's Ark vessel caught a Giant Trevally of about 20 kilograms before released it again to the sea.

Although exhausted after the trip, several of them heading back to Jakarta and Bandung in West Java, all were already looking forward for their next adventure.

RI succeeds in saving coral reefs, says researcher

Desy Nurhayati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia's efforts to preserve its marine and coastal resources has seen a decline in the number of damaged coral reefs across the country's oceans this year, a researcher said Friday.

Indonesian Institute of Science's (LIPI) oceanography researcher Suharsono said recent data had revealed a decreased percentage of damaged coral reefs -- down to 32.05 percent from 33.17 percent in 2006.

"The declining number of coral reef destruction in Indonesia shows that people's awareness to preserve our abundant ocean resources has improved, thanks to support from the government and the public," Suharsono said.

The research divided the condition of coral reefs into four categories: poor, fair, good and excellent, with the country's areas divided into three regions: west, central and east.

According to research conducted from 908 observation sites across the country's waters, the number of "excellent" and "good" coral reefs had increased to 5.51 and 25.11 percent, respectively, from 2006 figures which sat at 5.23 and 24.26 percent.

Suharsono said the worst destruction had occurred in the western region, while the central region showed the highest number of coral reefs in good condition.

Despite the decline in damaged coral reefs, Suharsono said the reefs were still faced with threats, including natural disasters, global climate change, overfishing and destructive fishing.

Indonesia has the richest coral reefs in the world in terms of quantity and diversity.

The country initiated a multilateral partnership called the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) during APEC's meeting in September in Australia.

The initiative has been lauded as a positive political move by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and a good step toward saving marine resources.

The CTI includes five Asia-Pacific countries -- the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and East Timor -- and a joint effort to preserve marine resources in the Coral Triangle Area, a region stretching from the central part of Indonesia to the Solomon Islands, and up from the Indian Ocean across the Philippines to the Pacific Ocean.

The 5.7-million-square-kilometer area is the global center of marine biodiversity with more than 600 coral species and 3,000 fish species, many of which are endemic.

The triangle is home to 76 percent of the world's total coral species and 50 percent of the world's reef fish species.

Syamsul Maarif, director general of coasts and small islands in the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, said coral reefs and species has significantly contributed to the livelihood of millions of people living in coastal areas.

He said efforts still needed to be improved to increase public awareness about the importance of preserving marine biological resources, while at the same time protecting resources needed for people's livelihoods.

Australia, Indonesia organizing joint fishery patrols

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer said Australia and Indonesia had taken a "great leap forward" in efforts to prevent illegal fishing in the region following a groundbreaking coordinated fisheries patrol in the Arafura Sea this week.

According to the Australian Embassy here on Friday, Australian Customs Vessel (ACV) Arnhem Bay and Indonesian Fisheries Department vessels Hiu Macan 003 and Hiu Macan 004 patrolled their respective side of the Australia-Indonesia maritime border over four days from 29 October to 1 November. A Customs Coastwatch aircraft supported the patrols with daily aerial surveillance.

Ambassador Farmer said these coordinated patrols, a result of ongoing Australia-RI maritime cooperation over recent months, would raise the capacity of both countries to combat illegal fishing and other transnational crimes.

"Illegal fishing costs the Australian and Indonesian economies millions of dollars each year and serves to deplete substantially our fish stocks, which are an important source of food and a key trade commodity," Farmer said.

The operational patrol follows an exercise in June to fine tune communication arrangements. This is the first time, however, that the two nations have rendezvoused at sea to undertake civil cooperative patrolling.

The Commander of Australia`s Border Protection Command, Rear Admiral James Goldrick, welcomed the patrol as a "concrete sign of greater cooperation between Australia and Indonesia and a more coordinated approach to reducing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the region".

Admiral Goldrick said the Australian Customs and Indonesian Fisheries vessels and surveillance aircraft had, in this patrol, exercised communication procedures and protocols in response to illegal fishing activities within our exclusive economic zones.

He said the patrol was part of a range of measures to enable Australian Customs vessels to work more closely with Indonesian fisheries patrol vessels and increase our overall capacity to apprehend illegal foreign fishing vessels in our respective waters.

Australia and Indonesia agreed to conduct coordinated patrols at the Australia-Indonesia Fisheries Surveillance Forum in Darwin in March. The Forum established measures for cooperation on fisheries surveillance and response activities, information sharing, coordinated activity, information networks, technical assistance, as well as options for funding of these activities.

Admiral Goldrick said ongoing border protection operations remained an important deterrent to illegal foreign fishing.

"Foreign fishing vessels continue to operate just beyond the boundaries of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (AEEZ). A reduction in our border protection efforts could result in a resurgence of foreign fishing activity in our waters," he said.

In the 12 months to June 2007, there was a 58 percent reduction in sightings of illegal foreign fishing vessels in Australia`s northern waters, compared with the previous year. At the same time, Australian surveillance coverage in the area increased by around eight per cent, and the rate of apprehension of foreign fishing vessels to those sighted increased by more than 40 per cent.

Tsunami detectors to be installed in eastern RI provinces

Manado (ANTARA News) - Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) will soon install around 13 earthquake and tsunami detectors in the eastern Indonesian provinces of North Sulawesi, Gorontalo and North Maluku, Manado BMG spokesman Subardjo said here on Friday.

"The installation of the detectors started earlier this year and is expected to be completed by next year," Subardjo said, adding that some of the devices had already been placed in Tahuna in North Sulawesi, Ternate and Labuha in North Maluku.

In addition, Subarjo said the detectors were also being installed at Marisa, Boalemo, and Kwandang in Gorontalo province and at Bolaang Mongondow and Dumoga in North Sulawesi province.

Navy thwarts turtle smuggling attempt

BADUNG (Jakarta Post): The Benoa naval base on Tuesday thwarted an attempt to smuggle dozens of protected turtles into Bali from Banyuwangi, East Java.

"We seized the boat that carried the turtles and arrested its five crew members," Navy officer Nyoman Lastera said Wednesday, as quoted by Beritabali.com newsportal.

He said the Navy seized dozens of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), some more than 30 years old.

The turtles will be released into the sea, while the crew members will be detained at the Benoa naval base.

Mangrove park proves popular with tourists

Wasti Atmodjo, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

As a small island, Bali is prone to erosion, but protection of its vast beaches and mangrove forests, have helped save much land, an official said Thursday.

The mangrove forests along Jalan Bypass Ngurai Rai to Benoa Peninsula in Nusa Dua, for example, are known as a greater forest park, said Sudrajat Wirapraja, head of the program section of the Denpasar Mangrove Forest Management Agency.

The park initially had a coverage of about 1,700 hectares, but the road works and other public facilities have reduced this to 1,100 hectares.

Participants in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in Nusa Dua next month will visit the park.

There are two mangrove management agencies-one based in Medan, North Sumatra, and the other in Denpasar, Sudrajat said. The Denpasar-based agency, he said, covers Java, Madura, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku islands to Papua, while the one in Medan covers Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Indonesia has 9.2 million hectares of mangroves, he said.

Mangroves are an assemblage of different species of trees or bushes which grow in saline, inter-tidal areas. The mangrove forest vegetation in Indonesia is classified into two categories genuine and association mangroves. The genuine mangroves are categorized into 34 major and 0 minor types, while the association mangroves consist of 60 varieties.

Out of that, more than 30 mangrove varieties grow along Bali's beaches.

"Generally speaking, the condition of mangrove vegetation is steadily increasing," Sudrajat said, adding that since 1992 over 400 hectares of barren lands had been reforested with mangroves.

An area which needs to be reforested is located On Benoa Peninsula, covering 50 hectares, he said.

He explained that the mangrove vegetation at the mangrove park reached an average height of 5-8 meters after about 12 years.

In line with its work division, the agency is responsible for formulating plans on mangrove forest rehabilitation and protection. Sudrajat said the was done in cooperation with various parties, including the government, communities along the beaches and others living inland as well as non-governmental organizations. Sudrajat and his staff provide 5,000 mangrove seedlings every year for planting by different groups.

Ideally, Sudrajat said, one hectare should have no more than 1,600 trees so as to enable them to grow to their optimum size. But in a rehabilitation area, up to 5,000 seedlings are planted in one hectare at an interval of 2 by 3 meters.policy is intended to anticipate dead plants, which cannot grow due to improper planting techniques or others," he said.

Planting mangroves isn't a simple thing to do.

"That's why, various parties asking for rehabilitation assistance have to tell the agency far earlier than the scheduled event. We provide seedlings free of charge. During the visit UNFCCC delegates will also plant mangrove seedlings in the park," he said.

Sudrajat added that the greater mangrove forest park had various benefits. Aside from its biological function, it contributed greatly to the economic and conservation sectors. Certain species of fish and crab use mangroves to seek food and protection. Fishermen are also able to make a living from the animals they catch there.

The park has also been developed as a recreation site park has been a part of objects offered to tourists in the city tour," Denpasar Tourism Agency head Putu Budiasa said.

Aside from its fresh air, the visitors have the chance to see various birds, monitor lizards and snakes. Sudrajat said up 97 bird species lived at the park, including migrating birds from Australia.

Visitors can walk along a raised wooden track or travel by boat and canoe.

Indonesia inviting foreign investment to develop seaweed potential

Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has invited Danish, German, Japanese, South Korean and Southeast Asian businessmen to invest in the development of the country`s seaweed potential, Marine and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi said.

The presence of foreign investors in the national seaweed industry would hopefully increase the country`s production and the capacity of its seaweed-based food industry, he said after the opening of an international forum on and exhibition of seaweed business here Tuesday.

"Indonesia has a seaweed development potential of 222,180 hectares but only 20 percent or 1,110,900 hectares of the potential has so far been realized with Rp68.2 million spent on development of every heactare," he said.

The country produced 1,079,850 tons of seaweed in 2006, up from 910,636 tons in 2005.

Numberi expressed hope Indonesia could produce at least 1.9 million tons of seaweed in 2009.

"Therefore, Indonesia needs to develop 25,000 more hectares and Rp800 billion in fresh investment to reach the target in 2009," he told the three-day expo which was being participated in by 150 businessmen from foreign countries.

Brunei Darussalam, Chinese and Malaysian entrepreneurs are also taking part in the expo.

Indonesia has already set up seaweed developing centers in 18 locations in Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua.