New Fisheries Minister Enthusiastic About U.S.-Indonesia

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001839 SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES AND EAP COMMERCE FOR NOAA USAID FOR ANE,EEGAT BANGKOK FOR RDM/A E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: SENV EAID EFIS TBIO PREL ID SUBJECT: New Fisheries Minister Enthusiastic About U.S.-Indonesia Collaboration REF: JAKARTA 1473 ¶1. On Noveb"er 4, newly-appointed Minister of Marine Affairs nnd Fisheries Fadel Muhammad highlighted marine rs"earch and human resource development as two key areas for increased U.S.-Indonesian collaboration Speaking with Ambassador Hume, Muhammad cited thQ planned voyage of NOAA's Okeanos Explorer to Inoonesia, and U.S. support of the Coral Triangle Ii(tiative, as concrete examples of partnership. He reiterated President Yudhoyono's full support for the ship's research voyage next June, and exprese d an interest in visiting the ship together with Ambassador Hume. Muhammad was pleased to hear of NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco's planned visit to Indonesia. He hoped Lubchenco's visit next January would further strengthen NOAA's existing partnership with his ministry. ¶2. In connection with the Okeanos Explorer, Muhammad noted that we know far more about terrestrial than marine biodiversity. As a scuba diver, Muhammad recognized the significance of Indonesia's incredible marine biodiversity. He agreed that marine research and work on sustainable fisheries management were of crucial importance to food security for tens of millions of Indonesians. Muhammad was enthusiastic about a possible joint Center for Sustainable Ocean Fisheries (reftel),and suggested this was something which he and Dr. Lubchenco could "make happen" during her January visit. ¶3. This two-time Governor of Gorontalo Province assured Ambassador Hume that he would highlight both the Okeanos Explorer and the potential joint fisheries center to President Yudhoyono during a cabinet meeting on November 5. HUME