VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Maritime and Fishery Ministry with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) agreed to the extension of cooperation in conservation and sustainable use of freshwater fishery (I-Fish) until 2023. That was announced by the ministry's secretary general Antam Novambar in a press release in Jakarta on Sunday (11/07).

I-Fish is a cooperation between Indonesian Maritime and Fishery Ministry and FAO under the framework of Global Environment Facility (GEF) signed by the Ministry's Secretary General and FAO Representative for Indonesia and Timor-Leste in 2017. Initially the cooperation is valid from 2017-2021. However, at the end of June 2021, it was extended until 2023.

Antam Novambar said the 6.1 million USD cooperation will be in effect for the next two years. It aims to strengthen the management framework for sustainable use of Indonesain freshwater biodiversity.

Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Head of the ministry Agung Tri Prasetyo said the I-Fish strategy is an integration of freshwater biodiversity mainstreaming into the policy through demonstrations.

The conservation and sustainable use will be implemented mainly for critical habitats at five locations in Kalimantan, Java, and Sumatra. The I-Fish main activities include the demonstration sites for belida fish (Chitala lopis) in Kampar, Riau; eels in Sukabumi and Cilacap, West Java; arowana and "beje" fishery in Kapuas and South Barito, South Kalimantan.

Agung Tri Prasetyo explained that the I-Fish is the greatest freshwater fishery management cooperation in Indonesia between the Maritime and Fishery Ministry and FAO. It is expected to contribute directly to the freshwater fishery village development. Agung also said that freshwater fishery is usually small-scale, namely in communities across the riverbank. He therefore affirmed the importance of freshwater fishery in fulfilling people's welfare and food security.

Agung also said in the future, the best I-Fish study and practices will become a reference in making the policy for freshwater fishery management across Indonesia. Some better policies and management will be a catalyst for freshwater management in other various land habitats.