Press Release: Local Governments’ Role Crucial in Ensuring Sustainable Fisheries Management

# The Maritime Local Government Network (LGN) of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) conducted a workshop for local government executives from Coral Triangle countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. 
# The LGN is an active network of local mayors and governors promoting marine conservation and sustainability in coastal areas within the six Coral Triangle countries. 
# As a result of the workshop, the local executives signed the “Jakarta Statement,” affirming their commitment to promote sustainable fisheries by allocating budgets, implementing marine spatial planning for small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, empowering local communities to manage coastal and marine resources, and supporting programs that protect seascapes, marine protected areas, fisheries, climate change adaptation, and threatened species.

JAKARTA, Indonesia – 8 May 2018 – Recognizing the crucial role of local governments and communities in achieving sustainable fisheries management, the Maritime Local Government Network (LGN) of CTI-CFF conducted a workshop for local government executives from Coral Triangle countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.

As a result of the workshop, the local executives signed the “Jakarta Statement” to reaffirm their commitment to sustainable fisheries through budget allocation, marine spatial planning, community empowerment, and support for programs promoting the management and protection of seascapes, marine protected areas, fisheries, climate change adaptation, and threatened species.

The LGN is an active network of mayors and governors promoting marine conservation and sustainability in coastal areas of the six Coral Triangle countries. The workshop aimed to develop an actionable plan to strengthen coastal and marine management on the ground, spread understanding of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM), and encourage local governments to adopt sustainable fisheries practices in the region.

The Coral Triangle is the global epicenter of marine biodiversity. Its reefs support approximately $3 billion in fisheries revenue annually and provide livelihoods for about 18 million small-scale fishers and their families. However, natural events such as storms and climate change, combined with human activities like overfishing, destructive fishing practices (e.g., reef dynamiting, cyanide fishing), and land-based pollution, have degraded these resources.

Mr. Agung Kuswandono, Deputy Minister for Coordination of Natural Resources and Services of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs of Indonesia, emphasized in his opening remarks the “necessity of multilateral partnerships to safeguard marine and coastal resources and address issues such as food security, climate change, and marine biodiversity.”

The LGN recognizes that involving local governments ensures effective coastal and marine management. Local authorities can conduct community-level planning, implement fisheries management, establish and manage marine protected areas, and adopt climate change adaptation measures.

Formed in 2011, LGN has organized country-level activities, regional exchanges, and forums to encourage and support members in strengthening policies and projects to protect and sustain the Coral Triangle’s rich marine biodiversity. The network includes approximately 21 local government members (cities, municipalities, provinces, districts, sub-districts) across the Coral Triangle countries.

“LGN aims to empower mayors to actively protect the Coral Triangle and the millions of lives that depend on it. Following this workshop, mayors are expected to focus on sustainable fisheries programs locally. LGN encourages local governments to create enabling conditions for EAFM through policy and regulation development,” said I.R. Hugua, LGN Chair and former Regent of Wakatobi Regency, Indonesia.

Through LGN support, local government leaders can promote sustainable fisheries and marine conservation, contributing to CTI-CFF goals as outlined in the Regional Plan of Action: establishing strong legislative, policy, and regulatory frameworks for EAFM; improving livelihoods and food security of coastal communities; ensuring sustainable exploitation of shared tuna stocks; and achieving sustainable management of live-reef fish and reef-based ornamental species.

Ms. Rili Djohani, Executive Director of the Coral Triangle Center (CTC) and an LGN development partner, highlighted the importance of building a strong network of local government leaders advocating for sustainable fisheries. “LGN maximizes learning and collaboration across boundaries. Since 2011, LGN has trained local government executives, while CTC has trained communities, fisheries officers, officials, and NGOs, reaching over 3,000 people in the region,” she said.

To enhance understanding of EAFM, technical experts and scientists presented and discussed the concept, including human access, governance, Marine Protected Areas, fisheries management, and community-based fisheries management.

The workshop was a joint initiative of LGN, USAID-Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA), U.S. Department of the Interior, CTC, and Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, in collaboration with the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat and National Coordinating Committees, with support from The Nature Conservancy, WWF, and RARE.

See the gallery here: http://coraltriangleinitiative.org/content/gallery-local-governments%E2%80%99-role-crucial-ensuring-sustainable-fisheries-management

For more information, please email regional.secretariat@cticff.org and lgn.coordinator@gmail.com.

-end-

About CTI-CFF

The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) is a multilateral partnership of six countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste (CT6). The CT6 countries work together to preserve marine and coastal resources and address critical issues such as food security, climate change, and marine biodiversity. Established in 2009, the CTI-CFF adopted the CTI Regional Plan of Action (CTI RPOA), a strategic plan with five goals: (1) designation of effectively managed seascapes; (2) application of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management; (3) establishment of a fully functional marine protected area system; (4) strengthening climate change adaptation and resilience; and (5) improving the status of threatened marine species.

About Regional Secretariat

The CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat (RS) promotes regional cooperation, knowledge sharing, and learning within the six member countries of the Coral Triangle. The RS coordinates and monitors RPOA implementation, supports official meetings and events, and provides services in monitoring and evaluation, financial coordination, information management, and outreach. It advises National Coordinating Committees (NCCs) on priorities, fosters networking among CTI Partners and donors, and serves as the communication hub for CTI-CFF objectives. The Secretariat is based in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

###

Media Contact:

• Janet Rosalie Anne H. Polita
• Communication & Information Manager, CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat
• www.coraltriangleinitiative.org
• jpolita@cticff.org