As an effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the 14th goal of SDGs, “Life below Water”, the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries (FIKP) Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas) along with Aquatrop of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu held the 8th National Symposium and 4th International Symposium.
This activity themed “Accelerating the Management of Marine and Fishery Resources to Achieve SDGs amid the Covid-19 Pandemic” was carried out virtually through the zoom meeting application from 08.00 WITA to 13.00 WITA on Saturday (5/6).
The symposium provided a forum for researchers, practitioners and other related parties in the field of marine science to share findings, ideas and experiences, as a contribution to escalating the marine and fisheries sector.
The keynote speaker presented was the Head of the Agency for the Marine and Fisheries Research and Human Resources, Prof. Ir. R. Sjarief Widjaja, Ph.D, representing the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic Indonesia, Ir. Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, MM.
The other invited speakers are as follows:
- Prof. James Bell (Victoria University of Wellington, Selandia Baru)
- Dr. Judith S. Weis (Rutgers University, Newark NJ-AS)
- Dr. Jean Yves Mevel (World Aquaculture Society-Asian Pacific Chapter (Was-APC))
- Pantat. Prof. Dr. Satoshi Asoka (Graduate School of Integrated Science for Life, Hiroshima University, Japan)
- Prof. Nick Paul (University of Sunshine Coast, Australia)
- Dr. Nurjannah Nurdin, ST., M.Si (Head of Research and Development Center for Marine, Coast and Small Islands, Hasanuddin University)
- Johnidy Ong (Co-founder, Chief Innovation Officer Cognr-Al dan Data Science Melbourne Australia)
- Dr. Mohd Fazrul Hisam Abdul Aziz (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu).
The chairman of the committee, Prof. Dr. Ir. Najamuddin, M.Sc., said that this symposium is an annual activity of the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Unhas. Due to the current pandemic situation, this virtual activity is scheduled to last until Sunday (6/6).
The National Symposium will present 96 national papers consisting of 49 papers from the internal party of Universitas Hasanuddin. The rest are from various agencies, research centres, and universities in Indonesia. Most of the national papers from outside Unhas were from the Fisheries Business Expert Polytechnic (AUP-STP) Jakarta sending 13 papers.
Whereas the International Symposium will present 205 international papers, consisting of 73 papers from Unhas, eight papers from Malaysian University partners, the rest are from some institutions, including Malaysia. Most international papers came from outside Unhas, to wit the Center for Socio-Economic Research, Marine Fisheries, which submitted 15 papers.
The activity was officially opened by the Rector of Universitas Hasanuddin, Prof. Dr. Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu, MA. Through her remarks, she stated her appreciation to the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Universitas Hasanuddin, for collaborating with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu to facilitate this activity.
“The speakers came from distinguished practitioners and scientists. They present analysis based on the results of research and policy. Thus, it surely can produce new and innovative recommendations on how to manage marine and fishery resources amid the pandemic and post-pandemic era to come,” explained Prof. Dwia.
During the pandemic, all economic sectors experienced a slump, especially in the marine sector. Prof. Dwia believes that the marine sector will rise first because Indonesia has abundant marine resources. Restructuring natural resources management is highly required to be more sustainable to maintain the diversity of marine life.
The activity continued with a discussion and Q&A session with the participants. It was moderated by Prof. Dr. Ir. Zainuddin Latif, M.Si, and was attended by approximately 400 participants.
Marningsih Sadik, S.S. and Kumara Tungga Dewa, S.S.
Editor : Ishaq Rahman, AMIPR
