Jakarta (Greeners) – Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Affairs to finalize Seven National Strategic Areas and 20 Certain National Strategic Areas located in the outer islands this year, a senior official said in Jakarta, on Wednesday.
National Strategic Areas is prioritized spatial planning areas for their nationally important influence on the country’s sovereignty, state defense and security, economic, social, cultural, and environment issues, including areas assigned as world heritage cites, natural resources empowerment and high technology.
“On the target plans, there are several areas have already appointed through Presidential Decree in 2017. So, this year is about following it up and harmonizing the stages at Ministry of Law and Human Rights on June 2018,” said Director of Marine Spatial Planning at the Ministry, Suharyanto, in Jakarta on Wednesday.
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The zoning plan will take place in five areas, — Mebidangro (Medan, Binjai, Deli Serdang and Karo), Kedung Sepur (Kendal, Demak, Ungaran, Salatiga, Semarang, and Purwodadi), Gerbangkertosusila (Gresik, Bangkalan, Mojokerto, Surabaya, Sidoarjo, and Lamongan), and Mamminasata (Makassar, Sungguminasa, and Takalar), and Bima –.
Previously, two areas already appointed in 2017 were Jabodetabekpunjur (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, Puncak, and Cianjur) and Banten Bintan Karimun (BBK).
“In the zoning plan process, there are stages need more time and certainty, such as in conducting survey, problem complexity, and the high dynamics which would make the process seems too long. So, the zoning plan will be done in stages, indirectly, with the target we’ve already decided,” he said.
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With the zoning plan, he added, will give certainty on the marine spatial planning, health, environment, economics, defense and security, and social issues.
“Besides the harmonizing process, fishermen re-position is also an important matter to be handled in the plan, including to provide social economics and modern livelihood by guaranteeing and providing room to live and access for small, traditional fishermen and small scale fish farming,” he added.
To appoint the strategic area, Professor Dietrich Geoffrey Bengen of Bogor Agricultural Institute said that academicians need to assess the criteria of the areas for the strategic plan.
“We are hoping for proper zoning plan to be synchronized that the areas designated by the province is real or the object has national strategic value. The bottom line is to optimize existing potential, such as increase investment with national impacts,” said Bengen.
Reports by Dewi Purningsih
22 Des 2023 
