R

ome-based Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has heaped praise on Indonesia for its role in combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Praising the work of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, FAO director general Jose Graziano Da Silva said that Indonesia had proven itself to be an active contributor in the eradication of poaching, according to a statement.

Da Silva said Jakarta had raised global awareness of IUU fishing’s criminal dimensions such as smuggling and slavery, the latter of which came to light two years ago in Benjina, Maluku.

The FAO chief’s praise came on Wednesday after he received the letter of appointment for Indonesia’s incoming envoy to Italy and permanent representative to the FAO, Esti Andayani.

“I hope that Indonesia’s relationship with FAO will continue to grow in the future, particularly in relation to food security and nutrition,” Esti said in a statement to The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Susi’s special advisor on interagency and stakeholder affairs, Suseno Sukoyono, will be in the running for a two-year term as independent chairmanship of the FAO Council on July 10.

The council acts as the FAO Conference’s executive organ between sessions, where it exercises functions dealing with the world’s food and agricultural situation, current and prospective activities, program of work and budget. There are currently 650 ongoing FAO projects across Indonesia worth US$350 million over five years.