Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia and the US have agreed to cooperate in a 40 million USDprogramme on the conservation ofthe former’s marine habitat and sustainable fishery resources.
The programme, which is funded by the US Agency forInternational Development (USAID), aims to improve the management of 6 millionhectares of marine habitat and deal with emerging issues facing the Indonesian fisherysector.
It also sets targets of building of 15 marine protectedareas, increasing the fishery sector’s productivity, ensuring food security andnutrition and improving the sustainable livelihood for people in the provincesof Maluku, Northern Maluku and Western Papua.
The programme also assists Indonesia in combating illegal,unreported and unregulated fishing.
US Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph Donovan said the US andIndonesia have a strong partnership in the maritime sector and the bilateralcooperation is expected to promote sustainable use of maritime resources whileensuring food and livelihood of Indonesian people.
Nilanto Perbowo, an official of the Indonesian Ministry ofMaritime Affairs and Fisheries, said the USAID projects on marine conservationand sustainable fishery are closely related to the Indonesian Government’s nationaldevelopment goals.-VNA
