“Marine resources are the future of humanity. The wealth of marine resources must be a source of prosperity for the Indonesian nation, and Ambon has that," Deputy Head of BRIN Amarulla Octavian said in Ambon, Tuesday (February 20).
During his working visit to Ambon, Octavian visited several laboratories of the Deep Sea Research Center. In discussions with researchers, Octavian emphasized the importance of collaborating with various institutions, both domestically and abroad, for the advancement of Indonesian maritime research.
He affirmed that the latest maritime technology was the focus of BRIN's innovation to support optimal marine food estate management and blue economy development.
"With the marine resources owned by Ambon, it can be a comparative advantage and a competitive advantage for Indonesian marine research," he remarked.
Currently, in Ambon City, a smart fishing village, located in the coastal area of Poka, is being developed. In the village, lobster and tuna centers were being developed as the main commodities to improve the economy of the community.
This initiative involves cooperation between the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Fisheries Training and Counseling Center (BP3), Ambon City Government, and related stakeholders.
Lobster and tuna were selected as superior commodities, as they have high selling points. Meanwhile, the Maluku provincial government stated that development of the blue economy is in line with its mission of sustainable natural resource management.
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"For this reason, cleanliness and environmental quality, especially on the coast and sea, need to be maintained and preserved," Assistant II of the Maluku Regional Secretariat Habiba Saimima said.
Saimima noted that Maluku is recognized as an island province, with 92.4 percent of sea area and abundant marine and fisheries resources. On the other hand, he said, based on the LIPI research in 2017, it was found that the density of domestic waste, especially plastic waste, had increased in the Maluku waters over the past two decades.
"For this reason, it needs to be (a matter of) concern for all stakeholders to overcome and resolve this waste problem in line with the efforts to realize a blue economy," she remarked.
