Fishing for potential in Tomini Bay

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

The neighboring provinces of Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo have agreed to develop the fishery potential of Tomini Bay.

The agreement was signed by Central Sulawesi Governor Bandjela Paliudju and his Gorontalo counterpart Fadel Muhammad during the Sulawesi Summit, in Palu on Monday.

Also attending the summit, which has been held annually since 1998, under the Coordinating Board for Regional Sulawesi Development (BKPRS), were other governors, regents, mayors and chief councilors from Sulawesi island.

Bandjela said during the signing ceremony for the agreement that the 411,000 hectare bay, which has been declared a protected world heritage site by UNESCO, had the potential to produce 330,000 tons of fish annually, as well as other maritime products such as pearls and seaweed.

"Maritime resources, including fishery resources, have yet to be developed optimally because of a lack of capital, skilled human resources and modern technology, and if the great potential can be managed professionally, the two provinces will supply their maritime products to the local market in Java and export them to Singapore," he said.

Fadel said the two provinces would promote Tomini Bay to attract national and foreign fishery investors, and agribusinesses and plantations to generate jobs for locals.

During the day-long summit, participants agreed on the importance of building the so-called Equatorial Canal, which would be centered in western Sulawesi. Once connected, the canal would connect important trade regions on the island with Singapore, the Philippines and Brunei.

Fadel, also a businessman and an influential figure in the Golkar Party, said he has lobbied Singapore and Korea's Hyundai Holding Group to take part in the canal project.

"I am optimistic the cooperation program will go in a smooth manner and will benefit Sulawesi," he said.

Chairman of the BKPRS' board of patrons, Ali Mazi, said the body has enhanced cooperation with the local administrations in Jakarta and West Java in the agribusiness and trade sectors, and with the Indonesian Export Bank to help finance the development of export commodities in Sulawesi.

Ali, also governor of Southeast Sulawesi province, said the BKPRS also was cooperating with several local non-governmental organizations to help local administrations organize exhibitions to promote the fishery, agribusiness and tourism industries on Sulawesi.

The BKPRS was initially set up by local administrations in Sulawesi in 1998 to help end the sectarian conflict in Poso that claimed at least 2,000 lives between 1998 and 2000.