VZCZCXRO9713
RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHJA #1839 3091041
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051041Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3729
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLL
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8895
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 4203
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 1053
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS JAKARTA 001839
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR OES AND EAP
COMMERCE FOR NOAA
USAID FOR ANE,EEGAT
BANGKOK FOR RDM/A
E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAID EFIS TBIO PREL ID
SUBJECT: New Fisheries Minister Enthusiastic About U.S.-Indonesia
Collaboration
REF: JAKARTA 1473
1. On Noveb"er 4, newly-appointed Minister of Marine Affairs nnd
Fisheries Fadel Muhammad highlighted marine rs"earch and human
resource development as two key areas for increased U.S.-Indonesian
collaboration Speaking with Ambassador Hume, Muhammad cited thQ
planned voyage of NOAA's Okeanos Explorer to Inoonesia, and U.S.
support of the Coral Triangle Ii(tiative, as concrete examples of
partnership. He reiterated President Yudhoyono's full support for
the ship's research voyage next June, and exprese d an interest in
visiting the ship together with Ambassador Hume. Muhammad was
pleased to hear of NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco's planned
visit to Indonesia. He hoped Lubchenco's visit next January would
further strengthen NOAA's existing partnership with his ministry.
2. In connection with the Okeanos Explorer, Muhammad noted that we
know far more about terrestrial than marine biodiversity. As a
scuba diver, Muhammad recognized the significance of Indonesia's
incredible marine biodiversity. He agreed that marine research and
work on sustainable fisheries management were of crucial importance
to food security for tens of millions of Indonesians. Muhammad was
enthusiastic about a possible joint Center for Sustainable Ocean
Fisheries (reftel), and suggested this was something which he and
Dr. Lubchenco could "make happen" during her January visit.
3. This two-time Governor of Gorontalo Province assured Ambassador
Hume that he would highlight both the Okeanos Explorer and the
potential joint fisheries center to President Yudhoyono during a
cabinet meeting on November 5.
HUME