ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has officially designated the Nusa Penida and Gili Matra Marine Conservation Areas as Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA).
Director General of Marine and Marine Space Management, Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Victor Gustaaf Manoppo emphasized that the establishment of this PSSA is a concrete action in implementing the responsibility of the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to carry out marine biodiversity conservation activities in marine conservation areas, coastal areas and islands. small island.
“The commitment to strengthen Indonesia’s marine protection received international support at the 82nd Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)-International Maritime Organization (IMO) Session at the IMO Office, London,” explained Victor in his statement in Jakarta, quoted on Friday, October 11 2024.
The two marine conservation areas are located in the coral triangle area which has a high ecosystem and marine biodiversity, including rare and protected species, providing ecological, economic and socio-cultural benefits for the community.
Apart from that, the two marine conservation areas are located in or close to both domestic and international ship traffic routes in the Lombok Strait which is the Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Route (ALKI) II area. Apart from these two conservation areas, there are 11 other conservation areas on the ALKI route.
The main strategy to protect the marine environment is realized through expanding marine conservation areas by 30% by 2045. This percentage is equivalent to 97.5 million ha of conservation areas. Currently, Indonesia has marine conservation areas of more than 29 million ha with the current number of conservation areas being 452 areas and 74 of these areas are included in the Indonesian marine map (nautical chart).
“In particular, the IMO MEPC discussed the PSSA proposal submitted by Indonesia in the Technical Group (TG) on the Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) and Special Area. On 4/10/2024, the IMO MEPC adopted Resolution MEPC.396 (82) entitled Designating the Nusa Penida Islands and Gili Matra Islands in Lombok Strait as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area. “This resolution designates two marine conservation areas in Indonesia, namely the Nusa Penida Conservation Area and Gili Matra in the Lombok Strait, to be Sensitive Marine Areas,” said Victor.
This determination is supported by various IMO member countries such as Brazil, Australia, Korea, Singapore, Mexico, Finland, China, the Philippines, Panama, Thailand, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Mauritius, Germany, Monaco, Oman, South Africa, Turkey and Qatar.
Director of Conservation of Ecosystems and Aquatic Biota, Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Firdaus Agung Kunto Kurniawan, who led the Indonesian delegation at the IMO session, added that this designation makes the two marine conservation areas even more protected from the potential impacts of shipping activities.
“This designation makes these two marine conservation areas even more protected from the potential impacts of shipping activities. To align with the IMO Resolution, adjustments to the management plan including zoning and technical rules for the use of conservation areas will be made in these two areas. “It is also important to carry out outreach and education so that the public knows and understands the establishment of this PSSA for the health of the marine environment in both areas,” added Firdaus.
High shipping activities risk having an impact on the marine environment and its biodiversity. Data for 2023 shows a high density of ship trips in the Lombok Strait. There are more than 77 thousand ship trips, which means 257 trips every day. Almost a third of these ships are tankers (chemical and oil) and containers which of course need to be anticipated and prepared for contingencies when passing or sailing close to Conservation Areas.
Indonesia’s achievements make it one of 18 PSSAs that have been established in the world. Indonesia will replicate the PSSA designation for 11 conservation areas on the ALKI route which will further strengthen Indonesia’s position in national and global commitments in protecting the marine environment.
Close collaboration between the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Ministry of Transportation through the establishment of the PSSA including the route system is the key to protecting conservation areas or preservation areas in seas that are close to or crossed by busy shipping lanes.
Meanwhile, sensitive marine areas or PSSAs are areas that require special protection through IMO action because of their significance for recognized ecological, socio-economic or scientific reasons and may be vulnerable to damage due to international maritime activities. (AT Network)
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