Indonesia’s Experiences in Ocean Governance: Identifying Ideas for the Regional Level
Shafiah F. Muhibat, CSIS Indonesia
Abstract
President Joko Widodo turned heads when the introduced Indonesia’s ‘maritime turn’, among others by promising to turn Indonesia into “Global Maritime Fulcrum” back in 2014. A lot of expectations arose, and some disappointments now — nonetheless, since then Indonesia has published a number of policies in the effort to get the best of its oceans. Among these policies, one momentous policy that stood among the rest is the 2017’s Indonesian Ocean Policy. Since its inception, it has been the core measurement/parameter for Indonesia’s success in governing its maritime domain. Departing from this policy, and following the current government’s unyielding will to increase domestic production and processing of its maritime resources, Indonesia has set out to clear up some of the bureaucratic mess hindering efficiency in tapping into the hidden economic potential of its ocean resources. One such initiative is the effort to streamline coordination between Indonesia’s maritime agencies. As the forefront of this effort, Indonesia is currently prioritising the strengthening of its law enforcement capacity, including to increase the ability and capacity of its agencies to observe and ensure law abidance. But the Indonesian government is also faced with the challenge to balance the desire to propel the productivity of its fishery sector, with the need to maintain a framework for sustainable use of resources. Departing from such experience, this presentation would then use the observation of Indonesia’s own experience in ocean governance to identify lessons and ideas applicable for maritime governance at the regional level.
