Bogor, Indonesia, 26-27 June 2023: Fisheries and marine authorities and experts from Indonesia and Timor-Leste managed to come up with concrete ideas and opportunities to address the transboundary threats grouped under the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) five Primary Environmental Concerns (PECs) in order to formulate the Indonesian Seas Large Marine Ecosystem (ISLME) Strategic Action Plan (SAP).

“This is positive progress achieved during this intensive discussion. I am optimistic that we can flesh out meaningful, innovative initiatives for the sustainability of the ISLME region,” said ISLME TDA/SAP guide and former Bay of Bengal LME Senior Technical Advisor Dr. Rudolf Hermes who guided the discussions.

Located in the centre of the Coral Triangle, the ISLME region is shared between Indonesia (98 percent) and Timor-Leste (2 percent). It is rich in biodiversity and a productive area of high values commodities thanks to the warm temperature and the Indonesian Through Flow that spread the phytoplankton across the region. The region offers huge ecosystem services and goods that are crucial for long-term wellbeing of 185 million people in the region, relying on its resources for livelihood, food and transport among many others.

The meeting was participated by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) of Indonesia, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) of Timor-Leste, expert members of the National Scientific Advisory Groups (NSAGs) of both countries, a team of experts from the Padjadjaran University and was facilitated by FAO ISLME Regional Coordinator CM Muralidharan

The discussion began with finalizing the visions, goals and objectives for SAP and then the expert participants broke into groups to discuss potential initiatives, innovations and opportunities for the five PECS, namely the (i) Unsustainable fishing and aquaculture practices, (ii) Degradation and loss of key marine habitats, (iii) Marine and land-based pollution, (iv) Decline and loss of biodiversity and key marine species and (v) Impacts of climate change.

Among key initiatives discussed were the need for improvements in various aspects, i.e. capacities of small-scale fishers/farmers and their compliance, capacity for responsible fishing and aquaculture practices, Monitoring-Control and Surveillance (MCS), effective Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) management, waste management, addressing Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as traditional co-management. The meeting participants also agree to strengthen transboundary cooperation through joint activities on IUU fishing, MPA and other conservation matters. Improving the role of community-based fisheries watch (Pokmaswas) in Indonesiaand Tara Bandu in Timor- Leste is also needed so they can help flag potential issues in their respective areas and address them.

On 28 June 2023, the Timor-Leste delegation met separately to fine tune the general and specific objectives of the SAP for further elaboration into its National Action Plan in the near future in close consultation with Timor-Leste stakeholder.