Bogor, October 23, 2024, A public consultation was held to discuss the Proposal for the Reinstatement of Protected Status for Aquatic Biota listed in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation (Permen LHK) No. P.106 of 2018. The event was organized by the Directorate General of Marine Spatial Management of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) at the Luminor Hotel in Bogor, and attended by various stakeholders, experts, and representatives from relevant institutions. The consultation addressed the transition of authority over protected wildlife management from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).
In this meeting, Dr. Amir Hamidy, M.Sc., Director of the Secretariat for Animal Conservation and Innovation (SKIKH), and Ir. Pingkan Katharina Roeroe, M.Si., Head of the Fish Species Protection and Conservation Team at the Directorate of Marine Conservation and Biodiversity, PRL Directorate General of KKP, served as the primary presenter. They emphasized the importance of re-evaluating Indonesia’s aquatic biota protection status. The presentation included policies aligned with legal developments and current conservation needs, particularly following Law No. 32 of 2024, an amendment to Law No. 5 of 1990 on Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Ecosystems.
A key topic discussed was the shift in management authority over protected wildlife from KLHK to KKP. Participants offered insights and recommendations to support a smooth and effective transition process. Dr. Rury Eprilurahman, representing the Faculty of Biology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), contributed significant input, emphasizing the need for clear species identification in state documents and effective management during inter-ministerial authority transfer. He highlighted that accurate identification and sustainable management are critical in protecting aquatic mammals and reptiles categorized as protected species.
The meeting concluded with a signed statement of agreement, which included critical points to guide further discussions regarding the transfer of authority and the management of protected species.
This event underscored the commitment of various parties to ensuring the sustainability of Indonesia’s marine and aquatic ecosystems, safeguarding protected aquatic species in compliance with current regulations.
The public consultation on the proposed revision of aquatic biota protection status also addressed several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG 15: Life on Land, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Through this event, Indonesia demonstrated its commitment to achieving the SDGs, focusing on environmental conservation and the sustainable management of natural resources.
