IPB Supports Maluku to be the Lumbung Ikan Nasional (National Fish Barn)

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Local Government of Maluku with IPB on “Pengembangan Ekonomi dan Wilayah Berbasis Sumberdaya Lokal Dalam Rangka Membangun Maluku sebagai Provinsi Kepulauan” (Regional Economic Development and Local Resource Based Building in the Context of the province of Maluku Islands) is expected to strengthen the cooperation that has been established. This was statement of IPB Rector Prof Dr. Ir. Herry Suhardiyanto after signing a memorandum of understanding with Maluku Governor, Mr. Karel Albert Ralahalu, on Thursday, 21 June 2012, in the Rector Meeting Room, Darmaga Campus, Bogor.
  
Furher Rector explained that Maluku has abundant fishery potential, is the pillar of hope for Maluku in the future. Therefore, the Rector suggested specifically for the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK) of IPB and other Faculties as well will cooperate together,  as there is a promising opportunity for various parties to manage it optimally for the improvement of local people`s welfare.
 
On the other hand, Rector was grateful that plenty alumni of IPB are working as officials or community leaders in the province of Maluku. "Hopefully they could perform their jobs as best  as they could  in assisting the Governor to develop their province for the benefit of the communities of Maluku," said the Rector
 
Meanwhile the Governor of Maluku, Mr. Karel Albert Ralahalu,  in his remarks  he mentioned that the Maluku Islands have a total lan area of 6.5%, and 93.5% of which is sea. Therefore, Maluku was worthy of being a national fish barn because 93 percent of the province is covered by seas with abundant resources. Accordingly, IPB is expected to play  important roll to support such plan. As we understand, no matter how rich the natural resoruces we are, if they are not well-protected someday they will be depleted by illegal fishing, "said the Governor.

For the visit, the Governor was accompanied by the speaker of the House of Representative of Maluku Province, Mr. M. Fatani S Sohilauw, the Chairman of the Factions, and Head of SKPD, including Chief of the Bureau of Investments, Head of Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Head of Department of Cooperatives, and the Head of Department of Agriculture. While Rector of IPB was accompanied by Vice Chancellor of Business and Communication, Dr Arif Imam Suroso, Director of Cooperation and International Programs, Dr. Rinekso Soekmadi, and a number of professors and researchers. (Wied).