RI urges CCSBT members to lift embargo on its tuna exports

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government has urged Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) member countries to lift their embargo on Indonesian tuna exports.

Indonesia made the request during the 14th CCBST meeting held in Canberra recently, the head of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry`s Statistical Data and Information Center, Saut Hutagalung, said here Thursday.

The commission had clamped trade restrictions on Indonesia and deprived it of chances to export its tuna to CCSBT member countries, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States, he said.

"At the Canberra meeting the Indonesian delegation conveyed its views that the time had come to lift the trade restrictions," he said.

The Indonesian delegation also took the opportunity to explain the latest developments in coordination and consultation meetings among government agencies, including their meeting with stakeholders in October 2007, he said.

When it came to tuna catch monitoring which became a contentious issue at the meeting, Indonesia was open to cooperate with CCSBT members, he said.

Citing an example, he said Indonesia had established cooperation with Australia, Japan and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).