Two Malaysian Universities Further Explore IPB University’s PKSPL Sea Farming
In heading towards an International Research Center, the Center for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies (PKSPL) at IPB University has started to forge international inbound collaborations with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). One of the collaborative agendas that was conducted is the Seminar and Collaborative Research Meeting (21-22/7). The meeting took place on Pramuka Island, Thousand Islands, DKI Jakarta, and was done with the aim to facilitate discussions with respect to sharing of knowledge on mariculture activities within the framework of sea farming.
Prof Yonvitner, as the Chairman of IPB University’s PKSPL, stated, "This seminar is intended to strengthen the cooperation in marine and fisheries research, more specifically in mariculture. Through this seminar, we hope to share knowledge about the experiences and lessons learned, both in Malaysia and Indonesia, particularly in the implementation of sea farming in the Thousand Islands area.”
The existence of the international collaboration was marked by a meeting between both parties in Malaysia at the beginning of 2023. The Seminar and Collaborative Research Meeting is regarded as a follow-up activity to that meeting. Further, the seminar is supported by the Department and Sub-department (Sudin) of Maritime and Agricultural Food Security (KPKP) of DKI Jakarta.
Dr Ina Salwany Mohd Yasin, as the Deputy Director of the Institute of Bioscience at UPM, revealed that the event is infact a continuation of the visit made by Prof Yonvitner and Dr R Dikky Indrawan at the beginning of the year 2023.
"For this reason, we want to know more deeply and directly, how the concept of sea farming has been applied in the Thousand Islands. We are also interested in the kind of knowledge transfer mechanism carried out in implementing sea farming to the local community here," she expressed.
Devi Lidya, MSi, as the Chairman of the KPKP Sub-department for the Thousand Islands Administrative District, explained, "The Seminar and Collaborative Research Meeting activity that was held is very important for us because, as a local government, we greatly appreciate and need support from academic activities like this as a reference for policy-making in the future."
Meanwhile, Imam Fitrianto, MSi, as the Chairman of the Maritime Division of the DKI Jakarta Provincial KPKP Service, added that the Seminar and Collaborative Research Meeting's importance extends beyond the local government, as it serves as a fundamental basis for policy-making at the provincial level at the same time. "The existence of this seminar will further strengthen each of the stakeholders involved, whether it's the local government, provincial government, academia (universities), or the community, in implementing a program," he made clear.
The Seminar and Collaborative Research Meeting were also attended by the community group, Thousand Islands 1000 Grouper Cultivation Forum. In addition, participants also had the opportunity to visit the Sea Farming Center of PKSPL IPB University and the local community of fish cultivators in the Semak Daun waters. (MQS/Rz) (IAAS/ZRT)
