Pemprov Papua Dorong Penguatan Ekonomi Biru Berbasis Potensi Laut

JAYAPURA - Kepala Dinas Kelautan dan Perikanan Provinsi Papua, Iman Djuniawal menegaskan bahwa laut merupakan sumber kekayaan yang memiliki nilai penting bagi kehidupan manusia dan kedaulatan bangsa.

“Laut adalah sumber kekayaan yang menyimpan begitu banyak potensi kehidupan. Selain menjadi sektor penting bagi perekonomian masyarakat, laut juga memiliki fungsi strategis sebagai alat pertahanan negara,” ujarnya.

Iman menerangkan, Papua dikenal sebagai salah satu wilayah dengan potensi perikanan terbesar di Indonesia. Hampir setiap kabupaten memiliki komoditas unggulan yang dapat menjadi motor penggerak ekonomi daerah.

“Potensi tersebut tersebar di sembilan kabupaten dan kota yang kini terus didorong menjadi bagian dari strategi pembangunan berbasis ekonomi biru atau blue economy. Konsep ini menempatkan laut bukan hanya sebagai sumber eksploitasi ekonomi, tetapi juga sebagai aset yang harus dijaga keberlanjutannya,” ungkapnya.

Bertepatan dengan Hari Laut Sedunia, Iman mengakatan bukan sekadar peringatan tahunan. Momentum ini menjadi pengingat bahwa laut adalah warisan yang harus dijaga bersama.

Di dalamnya tersimpan sumber pangan, sumber ekonomi, dan sumber kehidupan bagi jutaan manusia. Namun semua potensi itu hanya akan bertahan jika laut tetap sehat dan lestari.

“Karena itu, menjaga laut bukan hanya tanggung jawab pemerintah atau nelayan semata. Menjaga laut adalah tanggung jawab seluruh masyarakat. Sebab ketika laut tetap terjaga, kehidupan akan terus tumbuh,” tutupnya. ***

JAYAPURA – The Head of the Papua Provincial Marine and Fisheries Office, Iman Djuniawal, emphasized that the ocean is a vital source of wealth with significant value for both human life and national sovereignty.

"The ocean is a source of wealth that holds enormous potential for sustaining life. In addition to being an important sector for the community's economy, the sea also serves a strategic function as an element of national defense," he said.

Djuniawal explained that Papua is recognized as one of Indonesia's regions with the greatest fisheries potential. Nearly every district and municipality possesses flagship marine and fisheries commodities that can serve as key drivers of regional economic growth.

"This potential is spread across nine districts and municipalities and is now being promoted as part of a development strategy based on the blue economy. This concept views the ocean not merely as a source of economic exploitation, but as an asset whose sustainability must be protected," he stated.

Speaking in conjunction with World Oceans Day, Djuniawal noted that the occasion is more than an annual commemoration. It serves as a reminder that the ocean is a shared heritage that must be preserved for future generations.

"The ocean contains sources of food, economic opportunities, and livelihoods for millions of people. However, all of this potential can only be sustained if the ocean remains well preserved," he said.

He stressed that protecting marine resources is not solely the responsibility of the government or fishing communities, but a collective responsibility shared by all members of society.

"Therefore, safeguarding the ocean is not only the duty of government institutions or fishermen. It is the responsibility of everyone. When the ocean is protected, life and prosperity can continue to grow," he concluded.

Through its blue economy approach, the Papua Provincial Government aims to balance economic development with environmental sustainability, ensuring that the province's rich marine resources continue to provide benefits for current and future generations. ***