Archived Media Release
9 March 2006
Australian Ambassador and Indonesian Fisheries Minister Announce Joint-Plan To Solve Illegal Fishing Problem
The Australian Ambassador, Mr Bill Farmer and the Indonesian Minister for Fisheries Freddy Numberi announced today that Australia and Indonesia would work together cooperatively to solve the problem of illegal fishing.
Speaking in Kupang after a meeting with the Governor of East Nusa Tengarra, Mr Piet Tallo to discuss the issue, the Ambassador said “we welcome the Indonesian government commitment to working closely with Australia to address the common challenge presented by illegal fishing. We have agreed to better government and police liaison, a public information campaign and a joint study on illegal fishing. The Australian government is also looking at ways that we can alleviate poverty in the region and offer alternative livelihoods through our development assistance organisation, AusAid”.
The visit to Kupang follows on from a series of meetings between the two countries on this issue including between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Howard as well as the foreign ministers, Mr Wirajuda and Mr Downer who recently agreed to a joint naval patrol operation along the maritime borders. The public information campaign aims to better educate local fisherman about the legal and community consequences of illegal fishing as well as the environmental and sustainability issues
Ambassador Farmer added, “the meeting with the Minister for Fisheries and the Governor has allowed us to gain a better picture of the illegal fishing problem from the local perspective. This is crucial in order to understand how we can effectively address the main problems faced by the local community. It is on solving issues like this that Australia and Indonesia work together as true partners – with common goals and objectives within the framework of our excellent bilateral relationship”.
While in Kupang the Ambassador’s also launched the $30 million program to reduce poverty in NTT and NTB, a speech to Nusa Cendana University as well as meetings with local politicians, military, police representatives and business people.
Further information:
Elizabeth O’Neill (Counsellor Pubilc Affairs) tel. 021 2550 5290 mob. 0811 194 144