Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono inaugurated the monitoring ship of the Center of National Waters Conservation Area (BKKPN) of Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, on Wednesday.
The 11-gigaton (GT) vessel will be used to monitor the preservation of the ecosystem at the Sawu Sea National Park.
“Please continue to maintain the area. If more people come (to exploit it), then the ecosystem can be damaged,” Trenggono noted at the Tenau Kupang Port, Kupang City, NTT Province.
The ship — with speeds reaching up to 31 knots — will also survey the protected marine biota in the area and their habitats as well as the coastal ecosystems.
In addition, it is used to monitor the suitability and zoning of the biota’s habitat as well as to quickly handle stranded sea animals.
The vessel — capable of carrying 12 people — is named Balaenoptera, derived from the scientific name for blue whale since the sea mammal is the icon of the national park.
Thus, it will also oversee the implementation of blue whale tourism at the Sawu Sea National Park.
The area was determined to be a national park on January 28, 2014, through Ministerial Decree of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Number 5 of 2014.
It occupies an area of 3.35 million hectares, spanning 10 districts in NTT Province.
Meanwhile, apart from the blue whales, the main conservation targets in the area comprise turtles, whale sharks, manta rays, coral reefs, and seagrasses.
Head of BKKPN of Kupang City Imam Fauzi affirmed that the Balaenoptera Ship will further optimize the monitoring of marine ecosystems in the center’s working area.
“We are striving to maintain the sustainability of ecosystems in Sawu Sea in accordance with the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry’s vision of implementing the blue economy,” he added.
Source: Antara News