KUPANG - In commemoration of the 59th National Maritime Day, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenko Marves) held a National Maritime Seminar at the Auditorium of Nusa Cendana University (Undana) on Friday, September 29, 2023.
The seminar, conducted both in-person and online, had the theme "Archipelagic State Development with Nusantara Vision towards Indonesia Emas 2045." This National Maritime Seminar aimed to expand maritime literacy by promoting maritime culture, recognizing the sea as Indonesia's future, and highlighting the maritime glory of the archipelago to the wider community, especially the millennial generation.
During the event, Menko Marvest, retired General TNI Luhut Binsar, presented the material online. Those who attended in person included Acting Governor of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Ayodhia G.L. Kalake, SH., MDC, Undana Rector, Prof. Dr. drh. Maxs U. E. Sanam, M.Sc, and Undana's Vice Rector IV, Prof. Dr. Jefri S. Bale, ST., M.Eng.
Also in attendance were the Special Advisor to the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Defense and Security, retired Navy Admiral Prof. Dr. Marsetio, the Commandant of the Seventh Naval Base (Danlantamal VII) in Kupang, as well as students from various universities in the city of Kupang who attended the National Maritime Seminar at the Undana Auditorium.
Undana Rector, Prof. Dr. Drh. Maxs U. E. Sanam, M.Sc, expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in Undana as the host for the National Maritime Seminar in his opening remarks.
"On behalf of the leadership and the entire academic community of Undana, allow us to express our pride and honor that our university has been chosen as one of the organizers of the national maritime seminar this year in commemoration of National Maritime Day," added Prof. Maxs.
She also expressed gratitude to Menko Marvest, as through the national seminar, it could raise awareness among the broader community, especially the Undana academic community, to view the sea as the future of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The introduction to maritime and marine-related matters, the Rector mentioned, should start early and be extended to the wider community, particularly to students.
"We express our gratitude to the Indonesian government, especially through Kemenko Marvest, for raising awareness among all of us, particularly the academic community, to once again see the sea as the future of Indonesia and even the future of NTT. It is also important that we advocate maritime literacy in our curriculum, so it is expected that from early education, our students can be well-informed and familiar with our maritime and marine aspects," she explained.
In his address, the Acting Governor of NTT mentioned that the NTT Province comprises 609 islands. As an archipelagic province, NTT has a larger maritime area of about 200,000 km2 compared to its land area of 46,446 km2. Regarding transportation infrastructure, the mobility of goods and people in NTT is supported by the presence of 12 ferry ports and 15 airports.
"As an archipelagic region, NTT has great potential in the field of maritime and fisheries that is currently not fully optimized. The potential for NTT's capture fisheries is 393,360 tons per year, but the actual utilization is only around 191,000 tons, which is 48.55 percent," stated the Acting Governor of NTT.
He explained that the potential for seaweed cultivation reaches 89,110.10 hectares, but only 14,007 hectares, or 15.72 percent, are currently utilized. As for salt fields in NTT, the potential is 52,000 hectares with an actual utilization of 11,000 hectares.
Therefore, the provincial government of NTT continues to make various efforts to optimize the potential of fisheries and maritime resources through policies, budget allocation, and collaboration among various stakeholders.
"We also hope for the support of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment as well as the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to facilitate the optimization of the fisheries and maritime sectors in NTT," requested Ayodhia.
Meanwhile, as explained by the Acting Governor of NTT, the ongoing efforts in the downstreaming of fisheries and maritime commodities are expected to ignite the enthusiasm of the people of NTT to no longer turn their backs on the sea but to view the NTT sea as the forefront. This is because NTT shares direct borders with two countries, namely Timor-Leste and Australia.
In conclusion of his speech, the Acting Governor of NTT encouraged students to see maritime and fisheries as potential areas for development. He said, "We hope that students, especially those in academia in the maritime and fisheries sector, can also think about how NTT, with its abundant potential, can utilize the sea and the fisheries sector."
