Informing the Importance of Fish Passage, SEAFDEC/IFRDMD and RIIFE Hold a Workshop “Water Resources Management to Secure Aquatic Biodiversity for Sustainable Development”
Fish plays an important role for human diets because fish contributes to food security and also provides livelihood for locals. In exploiting fish resources, understanding fish behaviors is needed. Some fish move longitudinally upstream and downstream, others move laterally from main rivers to floodplain and otherwise. Therefore, maintaining river connectivity is paramount important to sustain inland fisheries productivity.
SEAFDEC/IFRDMD and RIIFE, through funding from the Australian Water Partnership (AWP), plan to promote and implement the fish passage as an engineering solution to maintain connectivity in existing weirs and dams throughout Indonesia. The AWP is an international cooperative initiative that helps developing countries in the Indo-Pacific region, and beyond, work towards the sustainable management of their water resources, and actively supporting the UN’s sustainable development goals. SEAFDEC/IFRDMD and RIIFE have mapped three potential sites in Indonesia, namely the Perjaya Dam, in Java Island around eel movement, and also the third in Poso, Sulawesi Island.
On Monday (5/10), RIIFE held a Workshop “Water Resources Management to Secure Aquatic Biodiversity for Sustainable Development.” The workshop was opened by the Head of Research and Human Resources Agency for Marine and Fisheries, Prof. Ir. Sjarief Widjaja, Ph. D., FRINA who participated in this event via online. The workshop participants came from BBWS VIII, Public Works and Irrigation Office of South Sumatera Province, East Ogan Komering Ulu Fishery Office, and fishers.
The keynote speaker at this event was Prof. Lee Baumgartner from Charles Sturt University. There were also Ir. Kamsiah Tarigan, Sp. I. (BBWS VIII Sumatra), Muhammad Nizar, S. Pi., M. Si. (OKI Islamic University), Medya Ramdhan, S. T. (BBWS VIII Sumatra), and Dwi Atminarso, S. Pi. (RIIFE researcher) as speakers. There were three people who acted as moderators, those were Dr. Mohammad Mukhlis Kamal, M. Sc. (Bogor Agricultural Institute), Vivin Indira Sari, S. T., M. T. (Marine and Fisheries Service of South Sumatera Province), and Dave Harold Irhajadi Muchaimin, S. T., M. Eng. Sc. (BBWS VIII Sumatera). In addition, The Deputy Chief of SEAFDEC/IFRDMD, Mr. Toshiya Suzuki also participated in this event.
This workshop aims to share knowledge about the fish passage that will be implemented by SEAFDEC/IFRDMD and RIIFE and also irrigation schemes. So the development of water infrastructures to increase rice production can continue and will not harm fisheries resources at the same time. Through this workshop, the participants are expected to spread knowledge gained to others in order to increase fish production and minimize the impact of water infrastructures development.