Jakarta (Greeners) – Minister of Marine and Fisheries Affairs, Susi Pudjiastuti, said government has issued regulations to keep Indonesian waters beautiful and productive as President Joko Widodo instructed the ministry to fight illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing (IUU Fishing).

“We have claimed sovereignty over our oceans to Indonesians by chase away foreign vessels stealing our fishes. We have regulated fishing zones, fishing tools, and stop destructive fishing activities. We are pushing for sustainable management. We are now protecting oceans together. Don’t trash oceans with plastic waste that can harm marine lives. No more hunting endangered fish species. Let’s protect oceans for the sake of our children and grandchildren,” said Minister Susi in Jakarta on Saturday (06/04/2019).

READ ALSO: Indonesia Allocates Big Budget for Sustainable Marine Tourism 

Furthermore, she said that one of the biggest threat for oceans is waste, especially plastic.

One easy way for all people, especially sea lovers communities, is to clean up beaches and oceans wherever they go or do their activities.

“President has issued presidential regulation in 2018 on marine waste management. I ask for all officials in the country to implement this regulation. Plastic straw is dangerous stuff, it’s better to drink coconut water directly [without straw],” she said.

Apart from waste, Indonesian oceans are also facing massive exploitation. Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Affairs have issued regulations to support healthy marine management and beneficial for Indonesia. Sustainable management will increase competitiveness of Indonesian fisheries in world market, through tracking and fish quality, either from catch and farming.

READ ALSO: World Ocean Day: Oceans Stick To Be Dumping Site in Indonesia  

Meanwhile, Kaka “Slank”, who is also co-founder of Pandu Laut Nusantara said that there are things to do to protect seas, such as follow the principles of responsible diver or “diver rese”.

These principles, he said, are related to the attitude while diving, including not destroying coral reefs, not disrupting marine lives and actively cleaning waste found in the sea or beach.

“Diver rese is another word for under the sea sanitary workers. Two years ago, I was given a net bag, I always bring the net every time I go dive up to this date. Unfortunately, plastic waste lies in the bottom of the seas are piling. Previously, nine years ago, the wastes piled up in the surface but now they are at the bottom of the sea. Hence, there are lots of incidents [where] whales ate plastics,” he said.

Ridho “Slank” also said that one of the inhabitant islands in Raja Ampat has massive waste, which came either by currents or dumped during transits.

“They got all kinds of waste, from instant noodles to oil plastics. The place is beautiful and neat but with piling wastes, it’s such a shame. We dived 30-40 meters yesterday, we found wastes, from car tires to canned drinks,” he said.

Marzuki of Kill The DJ, one of Pandu Laut Nusantara influencer, said “each of us has unique abilities. For me, I set up Youtube broadcast. All of those unique abilities if collaborated to protect seas will show impacts. So, instead of just thinking about how to get good spot, but we also help to protect the environment,” he said.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

Jakarta (Greeners) – Amid rising concerns for marine plastic waste, Indonesia allocates three percent of its state budget to support regions developing their sustainable marine tourism.

Kosmas Harefa, assistant deputy for Culture, Art and Sports of Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs, said that Indonesia’s marine potential is not effectively explored in marine sports compare to other nations, while this could lift the country’s aim to become world’s maritime axis.

“We have oceans but has not fully utilized. Hence, we need to make our oceans as the world’s destination for marine activities, especially marine sports,” said Harefa to Greeners in Jakarta on Thursday (04/04/2019).

READ ALSO: Waste Still an Issue for Tourism in Indonesia 

Harefa said to develop marine tourism requires coordination with local governments as they are the ones who understand the areas and have the authority.

He said that Indonesia is still struggling with plastic waste for its sustainable marine tourism management. In addition, he expected for regional administration to create innovation to support sustainable marine tourism management.

“We [coordinating ministry for maritime issues] can only assist, guide, monitor and evaluate regional governments and public for this sustainable marine tourism development,” he said. “The government needs to be encouraged to develop the system that involves public because awareness is more important so that waste management is integrated to all stakeholders.”

READ ALSO: Two Ministries Collaborate on Developing Marine Tourism 

Meanwhile, Ali Mochtar Ngabalin, presidential special staff, said that the government had allocated budget for marine conservation and tourism.

“Indonesian government prepares a big budget for the working frame and tasks of maritime affairs, might it be clean-up seas or conservation [efforts]. More than three percent of maritime budget is allocated for marine conservation and tourism.”

Ngabalin did not provide more details in the budget, however, he ensures that the money will be distributed to several head of districts and mayors to be finance conservation program in regions.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

Jakarta (Greeners) – Ministry of Marine and Fisheries allocates two and a half billion rupiah on plastic waste management facilities, as part of Love Ocean Movement or Gita Laut, a program initiated by Spatial Planning directorate general to preserve oceans, said its senior official in Jakarta on Monday (13/8/2018).

“The ministry allocates eight to ten billion rupiah per year since 2017 for Gita Laut. We provide two and a half billion rupiah for facilities of waste management and others, including training, cleaning beaches, Marine School and waste bins program, said Brahmantya Satyamurti Poerwadi, Director general of Spatial Planning, on Monday (13/8/2018).

READ ALSO: World Ocean Day: Oceans Stick To Be Dumping Site in Indonesia 

Poerwadi said that the fund is allocated to provide plastic chopper in 11 locations and compost machines in six locations throughout the country. This facility is to prevent plastics in terrestrial from being dumped into the oceans through recycle.

“The chopper and organic waste compost has been distributed since 2017 in Kendari, Bali and Labuan Bajo. I have also received message from Sapeken Island of Madura requesting for plastic chopper,” he added.

READ ALSO: Indonesia Encourages Reduce Plastic Waste to Southeast Asia Nations 

He said that these facilities are meant to support National Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management, targeting to reduce plastic waste volume to 70 percent in 2025. This commitment includes to keep terrestrial plastic to go to oceans, recycle and change public mindset to not use disposable plastics.

Furthermore, he said that a presidential decree of the national action plan will be issued before Our Ocean Conference 2018.

“In fact, the decree could be issued before OOC, at least, two more months, the design is finalized, it just needs the president to sign,” he said.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

Jakarta (Greeners) – Government is setting up programs, regulations, and national action plans to reduce plastic waste in Indonesia, said Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Minister of Environment and Forestry, in Jakarta on Tuesday (20/6/2018).

Based on data from sipsn.menlh.go.id, plastic waste composition covers 16 percent out of national waste volume.

“There are specific plastic waste national plan. We have prepared for presidential regulation, it’s on the final stage and already circulated to involve other ministries, including navy and police,” said Minister Siti adding that reducing plastic waste will cover retail, road map on reducing waste by producers and business, and marine plastic waste action plan.

Furthermore, she said only 10 to 15 percent out of plastic waste volume is being recycled, meanwhile 60-70 percent of plastic waste goes to landfills, and 15-30 percent is not managed and dumped to water areas, including rivers, lakes, beaches, and oceans.

READ ALSO: Indonesia Encourages Reduce Plastic Waste to Southeast Asia Nations

Executive Director of Indonesia’s Plastic Bag Diet Movement, Tiza Mafira said that only few plastic bags recycled. “Less than seven percent is being recycled, which means 93 percent of them are going to landfills or rivers and oceans,” said Mafira adding governments are slow to implement plastic bag regulations.

“It is unfortunate that current regulations are more of social warning or coordination, for instance on plastic bag policies. There are 50 countries with the policies but in Indonesia, there are regional still hesitant and doubt to implement them,” she said adding that it is a setback.

“I think the setback is because of criticism, there are disagreement such as the plastic bag levy. Industry consider the levy had decreased purchasing power meanwhile the impacts are social, environmental and towards humans,” she said.

READ ALSO: Ministry of Environment and Forestry Readies to Tackle Plastic Waste Issue

Sri Bebassari, a waste expert, said that waste management should be prioritized, regulations must be considered and implemented by government and people, preparing for funding to manage waste, and support from institutions and other ministries, and technologies to manage waste.

“People need to take part because reduce, reuse, and recycle are not long term because sorting waste is long term, and the highest knowledge,” she said adding that it is difficult to implement regulation, policy, or national action plans if people are not supporting and indifferent towards government’s program.

Furthermore, she said governments to support the movement to encourage people to follow regulations, policies, and national action plans.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

Jakarta (Greeners) – A senior official encourages people to reduce plastic waste in an effort to tackle ocean waste issues, in Jakarta, on Friday (08/06/2018).

“One of the efforts to protect oceans health is by ensuring they are free from plastic waste. As it’s known, plastic waste has negative impacts on marine ecosystem, including coral reef,” said Director General of Marine Spatial Planning of Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Issues, Brahmantya Satyamurti Poerwadi, during a World Ocean Day event.

Furthermore, Poerwadi said that preserving marine ecosystem, including coral reefs, seagrass, mangrove, and fishes are everyone’s responsibilities. Marine plastic waste, he added, will disturb marine lives and will impact tourism industry.

READ ALSO: Ministry of Environment and Forestry Readies to Tackle Plastic Waste Issue

Based on People’s Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA) data, 1.29 million tons of waste dumped into the rivers and ended up in the oceans in May 2018. Out of that number, 13,000 plastic waste per square kilometer.

“Indonesia ranked runner up after China, out of 20 countries dumping plastic waste to the oceans, which is followed by Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. Majority still consider oceans are large dumping areas meanwhile they, strategically, provide food,” said Susan Herawati, secretary general of KIARA.

Furthermore, Herawati said that plastic waste has increased twofold within its 11 years cycle. Packaging and food takeouts or drinks were the largest types of plastic waste.

“Plastic waste has negative impacts for Indonesia’s coastal areas. However, the most terrible impacted is fishes, directly or indirectly, eating plastic. The impacts will return to us consuming those fishes,” she said.

READ ALSO: Indonesia Encourages Reduce Plastic Waste to Southeast Asia Nations 

She said education and awareness on oceans and plastic waste are important cross-ministries, including ministry of fisheries and marine issues, ministry of environment and forestry, and coordinating ministry of maritime as oceans are considered as dumping site.

“The hope of coastal people is simple. First, they’re hoping for fully sovereignty, meaning they are becoming important part in coastal and oceans management. On one side, there are real efforts to change negative stigma of oceans as large dumping site or landfill,” she said. “This change must come from education or awareness. On the other side, law enforcement for those destructing coastal areas. Currently, our government is lacking on firm actions towards violators of coastal and oceans.”

Report by Dewi Purningsih

Balikpapan (Greeners) – A senior official on Friday (4/5) encouraged all Southeast Asia nation to develop policies and strategies to achieve sustainable city in the effort to tackle complex and dynamic environmental issues.

Indonesia hosted the 16th ASEAN Working Group on Environmentally Sustainable Cities (AWGESC) on May 2-3, in Balikpapan of East Kalimantan,which aimed to establish a working platform to achieve sustainable city, especially on reducing waste plastic.

“Advance and out of the box policies and strategies are not business as usual but bold and strict policies and strategies, for example reducing waste plastic through limitation or banning the use of plastic waste, single-use plastic bag in retail industry,” said Rosa Vivien Ratnawati, Director General of Waste, Toxic, and Hazardous Toxic Management, Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

READ ALSO: KLHK Allocates 12 billion for Citarum River Waste Management

Ratnawati said that marine plastic waste was also a priority at the meeting, adding that more than 50 percent of cities and capital cities are located in coastal areas and the waste came from the cities. Hence, she said, solid waste management must be applied in the cities to reduce and prevent solid waste leak, especially to oceans.

“Specifically, we underline on plastic waste of which amounts to 80 percent coming from cities and terrestrial. The number must be immediately solved considering the problem is terrestrial,” she said adding the meeting also saw Indonesia declared limitation on plastic waste in Balikpapan, Banjarmasin, Malang, Cimahi and Sigi.

“Limiting plastic waste has been implemented and initiatives of the cities, such as Balikpapan, Banjarmasin, Malang and Sigi districts. There four other cities but they have not included it into regional policies. We will keep on encouraging the cities to reduce plastic waste, at least in their own cities,” said Novrizal, director of Waste Management, Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

READ ALSO: Lack of Attention on Circular Economy for Waste Management

Furthermore, he said that Indonesia had proposed marine plastic was as one of the agenda at the 16th AWGESC.

The declaration is an effort and significant contribution considering Indonesia has committed to reduce 30 percent of waste from its source and 70 percent of marine waste by 2024.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

Jakarta (Greeners) – Coordinating Ministry on Maritime Issues targeted marine plastic waste management on five touristic sites, — Toba Lake, Tanjung Kelayang, Mandalika, Labuhan Bajo, Borobudur and Toraja –, by 2018, said Safri Burhanuddin, Deputy for Human Resources, Science Technology and Culture, at the ministry, in a statement, on Wednesday (6/9).

“We have a Quick Win target to fight marine plastic waste in those touristic sites on 2018,” said Burhanuddin when giving keynote speech at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Meeting on Accelerating Waste Management Solutions to Reduce Marine Litter.

Furthermore, he underlined that environmental awareness through education and improved facilities for marine waste management in small islands and coastal areas will take major roles in the effort.

READ ALSO: Regional Governments Need To Be Creative and Innovative To Tackle Waste Issues

He added that main threats of marine and coastal biodiversity were marine plastic waste and micro plastic.

Experts from United Nations stated that 83 percent of marine litter in the oceans and beaches were plastic, which required integrated management from policy to implementation level to tackle this issue.

READ ALSO: Minister Luhut : Reduce Waste With Circular Economic Model

Indonesia, he said, has been developing National Action Plan on Marine Plastic Waste, comprise of four main pillars, — change behavioral, reduce waste from terrestrial, reduce plastic in coastal and oceans, and law enforcement, funding mechanism, research and technology, and institutionalization.

“In line with this national action plan, bilateral and regional collaboration as much as cooperation between the government and private sectors are being built up to control marine plastic waste. This effort needs to be done through monitoring and collecting marine plastic waste using relevant technology to ensure the results,” he added.

Reports by Danny Kosasih