Indonesia's potential fishery resources are estimated at six million tons worth some US$6 billion a year, well above its annual fish exports valued at US$4 million, an Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) researcher said.
"The government and the public should take advantage of these potentials for the benefit of the nation's welfare," head of the oceanography research center, Ono Kurnaen Sumadhiharga, said earlier this week.
â€The government, he said, should empower fishermen operating in coastal waters to enable them to boost their income while at the same time preventing existing marine resources from depletion. Furthermore, the government should also rehabilitate coastal areas in western Indonesia, which have been badly damaged.â€
According to Ono, the government's political will to explore marine resources is reflected in its Mina Bahari Gate project in Gorontalo, which was launched by President Megawati Soekarnoputri recently.
"The potential of tuna fish and skipjack is huge in eastern Indonesia, and we could maximize explorations as well as prevent the fish species from extinction," Ono said.