Indonesia’s government is beginning to prioritize the blue economy, and CSF Indonesia is a part of the early stages of this work. 

This March, CSF Indonesia led a focus group in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, which brought together local government officials and fishing port managers to encourage the implementation of a sustainable blue economy. 

The UN Environment Programme defines blue economy as "a form of development that seeks to promote economic growth and preserve and improve livelihoods in various sectors while ensuring the sustainable use of marine resources". In other words, this development model manages the ocean economy in a way that provides long-term economic and social benefits to Indonesia’s population without compromising the safety of their marine ecosystems. 

Indonesia has recently placed blue economies at the forefront of its policy strategy, partnering with eight United Nations agencies to launch the National Blue Agenda Actions Partnership (NBAAP) last September, designed to simultaneously promote social, economic, and environmental health for maritime spaces. As one of the primary ports in Indonesia, Makassar City must be central to this approach. 

Focus group participants included South Sulawesi Province DKP, Sikka Regency DKP, Tual City Tourism Office, the Head of Kendari Ocean Fishing Port, policy analysts, university scholars, and other non-governmental organizations. 

Participants were encouraged to explore the relationship between terrestrial and marine areas and how land-based industries with links to coastal and marine ecosystems can be included in coastal and marine management. Focus groups such as these enable stakeholders' collaboration at the earliest stages of developing Indonesia’s blue economy framework. 

Our work in Sintang will demonstrate the potential of the blue economy to enable Indonesia to meet its ambitious Sustainable Development Goals. 

This collaboration was made possible by The David and Lucile Packard Foundation