Mangrove Rehabilitation Crucial for Fisheries Productivity and National Food Security

Rehabilitating mangrove ecosystems is a vital strategy for Indonesia to maintain its fisheries productivity and strengthen national food security, according to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono highlighted the critical state of Indonesia's mangroves, noting that the country has lost around 40% of its mangrove coverage in the past three decades, with an annual destruction rate of approximately 52,000 hectares. Currently, about 19.26% of Indonesian mangroves are in critical condition due to natural factors and human activities.

Trenggono explained that mangroves serve essential functions, including protecting coastal areas, providing habitats for marine life, supporting fisheries, sustaining coastal communities' livelihoods, and absorbing carbon to mitigate climate change impacts. He stressed that mangrove rehabilitation must go beyond mere planting and be based on ecological suitability to ensure the ecosystem's functions are fully restored.

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Mangrove rehabilitation must not stop at planting activities alone, but must be carried out based on ecological suitability, so that ecosystem functions are truly restored.

"Mangrove rehabilitation must not stop at planting activities alone, but must be carried out based on ecological suitability, so that ecosystem functions are truly restored," Trenggono stated during World Mangrove Day in Denpasar, Bali. He emphasized that successful rehabilitation hinges on collaboration among government, communities, businesses, and academics, supported by integrated policies, scientific knowledge, community empowerment, funding, monitoring, and public education.

The KKP has set an ambitious target to expand marine conservation areas, including mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, to 97.5 million hectares by 2045. This expansion is intended to ensure the sustainability of marine resources and support the productivity of national fisheries. Additionally, the ministry is integrating mangrove rehabilitation with the revitalization of unproductive fish ponds along the North Coast of Java, covering an initial 14,000 hectares. This initiative aims to improve coastal ecosystems, boost fish production, create jobs, and enhance food security, particularly as global food and protein demands are projected to rise significantly by 2050.

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The expansion of marine conservation areas is an effort to maintain the productivity of national capture fisheries for the future.