Maritime Axis Program Running Well: Minister

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The conditions in the Indonesian marine and fisheries sector are very supportive of the government's maritime axis development concept, according to the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP).

"Fishery resources are now abundant and the marine affairs and fisheries sector has achieved high growth," KKP Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said recently.

Therefore, the KKP is optimistic that the concept of maritime axis could be implemented with the support of quality institutions that help the KKP as the main executor of the program.

The policy to improve the welfare of Indonesian fishermen as one of the pillars of maritime axis development should not be ignored by various sides in the country, the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association (KTNA) had said earlier.

"I believe that improving the welfare of Indonesian fishermen is one of the important pillars for the development of Indonesia in the world maritime axis," KNTI M Chairman Riza Damanik said late last month (February 29).

In order to achieve the goal, there is a need to strengthen the participation of people in supervising the empowerment and protection program for fishermen, according to Riza Damanik.

Therefore, the government should involve the people in the supervision of the program.

"This is important in view of the fact that in the past the government has provided assistance to fishermen in the form of fishing vessels, fishing nets and other items, but the program failed because it did not include the participation of people since the beginning," he said.

The government intends to assist fishermen again, he said. It should be ensured that people are involved in the supervision so that the program does not fail again. (WDY)