The Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono conveyed that his working visit to the Riau Islands is to convey to the world what the Indonesian people had done to protect the sea. He was present at the Riau Islands in conjunction with the National Movement for the Love of the Sea (Gernas BCL) which began in 2022, where one month a year fishermen are asked not to catch fish but to collect garbage. Then, the waste will be paid according to the lowest fish price. “This Gernas BCL is the implementation of one of the five Blue Economy programs designed by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries,” said Trenggono in Madong Village, Tanjungpinang, Tuesday (18/10/2022). Madong Village in Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands was selected as one of 14 locations for the implementation of Gernas BCL throughout Indonesia from 1st to 31st October 2022. Trenggono explained that in addition to marine waste management through Gernas BCL, the Blue Economy program initiated by the KKP includes the expansion of closed conservation areas.

According to him, Indonesia is divided into six zones, where the Riau Islands enter Zone 1 to the Natuna Sea. In each of these zones, one area is designed to not be disturbed, cannot be crossed by ships, and no fishing is allowed (closed conservation). “The effect is that from one zone it will be able to produce oxygen, absorb carbon, and become a spawning ground for fish,” he said. The next blue economy program presented by Trenggono is measurable fishing. Fishing that is not regulated properly results in the depletion of marine life. Next is a cultivation development program which he hopes in future Indonesia will have superior commodities as a result and lastly is the coastal area and small island management program. “The coast must be protected because according to theory, two miles from the coast is the main ecosystem in carbon sequestration. There are mangroves, sinking mud, and seagrass beds, which are connected to coral reefs,” said Trenggono. Finally, Minister Trenggono hopes that these five programs can be socialized and implemented in Riau Islands. For this reason, his party will coordinate with the Raja Ali Haji Maritime University. "Next year, if I come here again, I hope that there will be one superior commodity from the Riau Islands," he concluded. Meanwhile, the Riau Islands Provincial Secretary Adi Prihantara, who represented Governor Ansar, expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries for the implementation of the Blue Economy program in the Riau Islands. “Hopefully, the spirit of maritime life in this province, for the welfare of the people from the sea, can be realized,” he hoped. The event was also followed by a safety briefing on the development of Madong and Sei Nyirih Fish Villages as Ecoedutourism Areas, fish restocking, delivery of 200 packages of fishing supplies for fishing, and delivery of 2500 white snapper seeds. Minister Trenggono also took the time to join fishermen in the Clean Sea Action in conjunction with BCL.

Source: https://www.klikwarta.com/menteri-kkp-harapkan-5-program-ekonomi-biru-terlaksana-di-kepri