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Nusa Dua Bali, Indonesia, June 20, 2013 - (ACN Newswire) - The Asia Conference on Oceans, Food Security and Blue Growth (ACOFB), which was held in Bali, June 18-21, has officially concluded. The Conference, themed "Blue Growth for Prosperity", demonstrated real action on policy and investment towards sustainably increasing and ensuring food resilience and the marine role in the Asia region. All Conference participants agreed to prioritize marine and coastal development in order to contribute to the sustainable socio-economy benefits that can be realized by implementing 'The Blue Economy' approach.
That was conveyed by the Director-General, Capture Fisheries Processing and Marketing, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Saut P. Hutagalung, when closing the ACOFB on Tuesday June 20. Saut re-affirmed that a number of Asian countries face numerous marine challenges, such as marine waters hygiene, the food and nutrition resilience, the poverty, the climate change and sustainable development. Therefore, it is necessary for decisive mutual commitment to cope with these issues.
The ACOFB resulted in eight point action plan, including: An integrated approach, by collaborating with scientists, decision makers, and business sectors to ensure sustainable food production, poverty alleviation and sustainable development; and, Governmental support for the sustainability and stability of natural resource utilization through data- and policy-based management.
"All the participants also agree to give increased support to small-sized fishery businesses and local community initiatives, as well as strengthening marine resilience to the impact of climate change in the Asia region," explained Saut.
Saut continued that a plan of action would be the repair and restoration of habitats and supporting ecosystem supporting fisheries due to fishing activity and marine ecosystem degradation. In addition, the Conference also agreed to a plan of renewal as an effort to manage marine aquaculture and ensure the sustainability of 'The Blue Economy' concept implementation.
The Conference also called for eliminating inefficiencies in fishereis business alleviation by implementing Natural Capital Accounting and valid investment data and information opportunity sharing supported by the adequate investment-, logistic-, and infrastructure-oriented assurance as well as the investment security and certainty on the marine and fishery sectors.
The action plan calls for a reducing inefficiencies in fisheries through building a 'Natural Capital Accounting', and valid data and information about investment opportunities, supported by policies that favour investment, logistics and infrastructure, as well as guarantees of security and certainty for investing in the marine and fisheries sector.
"ACOFB also recommends the plan of action associated with the renewal of marine energy in the Hindia and west Pacific Ocean by establishing joint research in association with the scientific community, providing information on climate change impact for decision makers, and an initiative on the establishment of an international oceanography committee," explained Saut.
The ACOFB Strategy
According to Saut, ACOFB 2013 produced seven approved strategies, first among them a coordinated action to increase investment and collaboration based on the proven approaches. This strategy is meant to unleash the potential of the oceans in addressing sea water health challenges, food resilience, poverty, and economic development, resilience against climate change and ocean acidification.
Other strategies include increased Asian regional collaboration as instrumental to increasing capacity and knowledge to provoke more effective policy and action; the collaboration in all disciplines and sectors; and the strengthening and implementation of integrated cross-sectoral policy.
"Remaining strategies include funding resource identification to finance initiatives, the development of the marine and coastal potential that can be realized by implementing 'The Blue Economy' concept, and the strengthening of collaboration through existing initiatives," explained Saut.
The ACOFB in Bali was inaugurated by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Republic of Indonesia and attended by a number of Asian ambassadors and state representatives, practiotioners, researchers, academics, NGOs, entrepreneurs and Asian international and regional organizations, amounting to 214 attendees, with participants coming from 42 countries.
"The Conference was jointly organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and the World Bank. In addition, UN's FAO also took part in organizing the ACOFB," Saut added.
The conference was divided into six sessions, "Ocean Policy Directive Linkage with Investment Guidance Toward Food Security 2020", "Research Priorities to Secure Food From the Ocean", "Provoking Issues on Oceans, Food Security and Blue Growth", "Identification of Key Issues by Sharing Experiences Formulating and Knowledge in Asia Roadmap Initiatives", "New Ideas and Approaches to Public Private Partnership" and "Oceans, Food Security and Blue Growth: Alignment and Asian Roadmap for Recommendation".
For more information, please see the official website at http://acofb2013.kkp.go.id/.
Please contact:
Anang Noegroho
Acting Director of Data Statistics and Information Center
The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
Mob: +62-811-806-2444
Email: pusdatin@kkp.go.id
Topic: Trade Show or Conference
Source: Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
Sectors: Environment, ESG
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From the Asia Corporate News Network
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