Jakarta (ANTARA) - Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo. (ANTARA/M Razi Rahman/sh)
Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo shared optimism that implementation of regulations favorable to the capture fisheries sector will facilitate boosting production in the sector.
Indonesia's fishery reserves have annually reached 12.54 million tons of which 80 percent, or some 10 million tons per year, are open to fishing.
"Of the potential, only eight million tons per year are already explored. We are upbeat about it being increased to 10 million tons per year," Prabowo noted in a statement here on Friday.
The minister expressed optimism that Indonesia's fishery production would be increased in future.
In its initial move, the ministry will ease the licensing process in the capture fisheries sector.
"We have been criticized about licensing. We will improve this," he noted.
Earlier, Chairperson of the Indonesian Marine Scholars Association (Iskindo) Moh Abdi Suhufan had stated that the ministry should make innovations and breakthroughs to establish sustainable management of the marine and fishery sector in Indonesia.
"For the new minister of marine affairs and fisheries, instead of wasting your time in conducting evaluation and revising policies, Pak Edhy should focus more on new policies that are innovative and sustainable," he stated.
He cited the example of the plan to develop a sustainable fishery industry in regions and the strategy to boost investment and export.
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