Programs related to marine space structuring in national waters will lead to the application of blue economy concepts that balance ecological and economic aspects, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono has said.

“All implementation of priority programs that utilize marine space focus on aspects of ecological sustainability and adjust to existing marine spatial plans,” Trenggono remarked in a webinar entitled ‘Blue Economy Implementation in the Marine Space Arrangement’, originating from here on Thursday.

According to the minister, the blue economy concept aims to minimize the potential for disruption of the coastal ecological balance that can cause harm to the ecosystem.

Blue economy principles in marine spatial planning need to be used as a basic instrument of licensing all development activities carried out in marine spaces, he said.

Comprehensive and integrated marine space planning based on the blue economy principles will prevent potential damage to ecosystems from development activities that utilize marine space, he added.

“It is important to create a healthy, safe, resilient, and productive sea for the nation’s welfare with a blue economy strategy that focuses on ecological and economic considerations on activities that settle in marine spaces,” Trenggono emphasized. “Marine space provides many benefits for human life, including as a source of food and life, connectivity lines, and support to protect economic assets such as coastal protection, erosion control, defense against storms, and pollution management,” he said.

Therefore, government regulations will serve as guidelines in marine space management by applying blue economy principles for regions and the center, he added.

This is meant to improve the investment climate and provide certainty in marine space sustainably, maintain marine health, and avoid conflicts in marine space and resources, he explained.

The ministry has also issued Ministerial Regulation (Permen KP) No. 28 of 2021 on the Implementation of Marine Space Arrangement, where the state provides protection to the interests of local, traditional, and coastal communities while giving legal certainty, space certainty, and certainty of investment for sea space users.

Permen KP is a strategy to apply the blue economy, as it is a control tool to realize sustainable development in the national marine and fisheries sector, Trenggono said.

Source: Antara News