Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (Indonesia)

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (Indonesia)
Name	Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Native name	Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan
Formed	2014 (reestablished)
Preceding	Directorate General of Sea Affairs; Directorate General of Fisheries
Jurisdiction	Indonesia
Headquarters	Jakarta
Minister	Menteri Koordinator Bidang Kemaritiman dan Investasi (cabinet post coordination)

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (Indonesia) The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia is the cabinet-level institution responsible for national maritime policy, fisheries management, and coastal resource stewardship. It operates within the constitutional framework established by the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia and interacts with provincial administrations such as Aceh, North Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara, and West Papua to implement sectoral programs. The Ministry engages with multilateral organizations including the Food and Agriculture Organization, regional bodies like the ASEAN, and bilateral partners such as Australia and Japan.

History

The institutional lineage traces to colonial-era maritime administrations under the Dutch East Indies and post-independence bodies formed after the Indonesian National Revolution. Early republic institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture (Indonesia) and the Ministry of Transportation (Indonesia) shared responsibilities for marine matters during the Sukarno and Suharto eras. Reforms after the Reformasi period and decentralization laws including Law No. 22/1999 and Law No. 32/2004 reshaped authority between central ministries and provincial governments like Bali and Lampung. The contemporary ministry emerged from reorganizations under multiple cabinets, notably during presidencies of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko Widodo, integrating maritime coordination identified in the Nawa Cita agenda and later aligned with the Global Oceans Action agendas.

Organization and Structure

The ministry's structure includes directorates-general modeled after administrative reforms inspired by agencies such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Key internal units mirror international practice: Directorate General of Capture Fisheries, Directorate General of Aquaculture, Directorate General of Marine Spatial Management, Inspectorate, and Secretariat General. Leadership comprises a ministerial office accountable to the People's Representative Council (Indonesia) and works with technical agencies like the Research, Development and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and educational institutions such as the Bogor Agricultural University and Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB). Regional implementation relies on Provincial Maritime and Fisheries Offices in provinces including Riau Islands, South Sulawesi, and Maluku.

Responsibilities and Policy Framework

Mandates include fisheries resource conservation, marine biodiversity protection, coastal community livelihoods, and maritime safety within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Indonesia and territorial waters adjacent to the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean margins. Policy instruments are guided by legislation such as Law No. 31/2004 on fisheries (as amended by Law No. 45/2009) and statutes covering marine spatial planning consistent with conventions like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and regional arrangements under ASEAN frameworks. Regulatory oversight interfaces with agencies such as the Indonesian Navy and Ministry of Transportation (Indonesia) on issues of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, maritime security, and port infrastructure in hubs like Belawan and Tanjung Priok.

Programs and Initiatives

Major initiatives include stock assessment and sustainable fisheries programs modeled on standards from the Food and Agriculture Organization and projects funded by partners such as the European Union and the Asian Development Bank. Programs address aquaculture development in provinces like West Java and Central Java, combat illegal fishing through patrol collaborations with the National Police (Indonesia) and maritime law enforcement, and support coastal resilience and mangrove restoration in regions including Aceh and South Kalimantan. Community-based initiatives collaborate with NGOs such as World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy and academic partners like University of Indonesia and Gadjah Mada University. Technology adoption programs involve satellite monitoring from initiatives like Global Fishing Watch and capacity-building with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and Japan International Cooperation Agency.

International Cooperation and Agreements

The ministry represents Indonesia in multilateral fora including the Food and Agriculture Organization, Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) against IUU fishing, and United Nations processes on oceans and climate such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Bilateral arrangements exist with countries including Australia, China, United States, and South Korea focusing on fishery enforcement, trade, and science. Indonesia participates in regional frameworks like ASEAN fisheries cooperation, engages with the Indian Ocean Rim Association, and aligns with global instruments including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Port State Measures Agreement.

Budget and Resources

Funding derives from the national budget allocated by the Ministry of Finance (Indonesia) and appropriated by the People's Representative Council (Indonesia), supplemented by international grants from entities like the Global Environment Facility and loans from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Resource allocation supports patrol vessels procurement often discussed with shipbuilders in Surabaya and Batam, research vessels linked with institutions such as LIPI (now integrated into BRIN), and community subsidies for fisherfolk in zones like Cilacap. Financial oversight is subject to audit by the Audit Board of Indonesia and program evaluation by parliamentary committees and civil society organizations including Transparency International Indonesia.

Category:Government ministries of Indonesia Category:Fisheries ministries Category:Marine conservation in Indonesia