CTI-CFF Establishes a Cooperation with the World’s Class University, James Cook University, Australia

CTI-CFF Establishes a Cooperation with the World-Class University,
James Cook University, Australia

- The framework of cooperation between the Regional Secretariat of CTI-CFF and James Cook University, Australia is to strengthen, promote, and develop exchanges and cooperation in the field of marine research. -

Jakarta, 30 November 2016 – The Regional Secretariat of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) seals a cooperation with James Cook University, Australia to reach the preservation of the marine environment, sustainable fisheries and food security through a framework of cooperation to strengthen, promote and develop exchange of cooperation in the field of science and marine research as outlined in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Gedung Mina Bahari 4, Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), today.

Referred activities as agreed in the MoU include research cooperation and capacity building in the form of technical assistance to support the sustainable management of marine natural resources in the Coral Triangle.

In the perspective of the Coral Triangle region, the signing of the MoU has a strategic value to increase research activities as well as the skills capacity of Human Resources in the field of marine and fisheries. This is due to the strategic role of universities in conducting studies and applying innovations in marine science and fisheries amidst emerging challenges of fast natural destruction and increasing food demand from marine resources.

Executive Director of CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, Widi A. Pratikto, said: “The MoU between CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat with James Cook University, Australia, in the field of science and marine research is expected to be one of the best solutions in overcoming the accelerating decline in the quality of the marine environment, challenges that arise in the world of fisheries, including food security issues with a scientific approach and capacity building of stakeholders in the six CTI-CFF Member States.”

Activities in the research field, which are based on a scientific approach, are aimed at advancing the sustainable management of marine resources including research on the effects of climate change, marine biogeography, biodiversity, connectivity, ecology, and ecosystem resilience.

In the field of capacity building, the cooperation will focus on several activities in three (3) regions of the Coral Triangle, i.e., Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands. This includes efforts to increase the capacity of senior government officials, local leaders, regional coordinators, program managers, and technical staff.

For technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, the cooperation involves delivering results through research, technical support, and training.

The cooperation program as outlined in the MoU and guided by the CTI-CFF Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) will last for five (5) years. During the period of the agreement, CTI-CFF is expected to align the proposed programs with the Regional Action Plan.

Prior to this agreement, the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat has also sealed several MoUs within the University Partnership framework with five (5) reputable universities in marine fields, namely IPB (Bogor Agricultural University), which has expertise in Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EAFM); ITS (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember) in the field of surveillance or remote sensing for vessel movement integrated with the Vessel Identification and Monitoring System (VIPS); UNHAS (Hasanuddin University) with expertise in Live Reef Food Fish Trade (LRFFT); UNSRAT (Sam Ratulangi University) in Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) – all in Indonesia; and UMT (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu) with expertise in Fisheries Research and Aquaculture.

“With the character of the expertise brought by the respective universities, the cooperation is expected to complement and strengthen the collective expertise required by CTI-CFF in accelerating the implementation of programs in accordance with the Regional Action Plan (RPOA) at the national and sub-national levels,” said Widi.

Lastly, the cooperation is expected to provide scientific recommendations and solutions to CTI-CFF in facing the challenges in achieving the objectives that have been defined in the RPOA.

James Cook University, Australia, is a comprehensive and reputable university in the world that focuses on teaching, research, and scientific activities in the tropics. The teaching and research focus on four (4) major themes: Tropical Ecosystems and Environment; Industry and Economics in the Tropical Region; People and Communities in the Tropical Region; and Health, Treatment, and Biosecurity in the Tropical Region.

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