Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has issued a presidential decree that is expected to boost the fisheries industry, a minister said on Friday.

The decree, signed by the President on Aug. 22, instructs 25 ministries and government agencies to speed up the development of the fisheries industry. The ministries must make integrated efforts to boost the industry and help local fisherfolk, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said on Friday.

Jokowi also instructed the ministry to evaluate regulations that hampered the development of fishery and local salt producing companies, the domestic market and the exportation of maritime products. Susi said her ministry would make a fisheries development road map and a master plan on commercial fishery zones.

Separately, Indonesian Traditional Fishermen's Association (KNTI) legal division head, Martin Hadiwinata, welcomed the decree, saying it would help improve fisherfolk's welfare. It could also help with the development of downstream businesses, such as fish processing plants, as the ministry tended to focus on upstream management by tackling illegal fishing, he said. (rez/rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/08/27/jokowi-issues-decree-to-boost-fisheries-industry.html