By Idham Malik

Beginning in September 2014, WWF-Indonesia officially joined the board of the Coordinating Board of Minapolitan Area Management and Fisheries Industrialization of Pinrang Regency, South Sulawesi (Sulsel) for the period 2014 - 2019, in the field of Community and Institutional Capacity Building. The involvement of WWF-Indonesia was authorized through Surat Keputusan (SK) Pinrang Regent number: 523/326/2014, which was handed over from Pinrang Regent H. A. Aslam Patonangi to the Coordinating Body Coordinator Muharijadi Atmomarsono, at the Field Meeting of Pinrang Regency Minapolitan Area, September 2, 2014.

Pinrang Regency was chosen because it is one of the largest tiger shrimp production areas in South Sulawesi. In 2012, tiger shrimp production in Pinrang Regency was 2,931 tons or 20% of the total production of South Sulawesi Province. In addition, the conducive atmosphere and strong support from the government, community, and industry for tiger shrimp development make Pinrang Regency an ideal place for a minapolitan area.

WWF-Indonesia has been involved in Pinrang Regency since mid-2013, starting with a gap analysis survey of sustainable fisheries practices (BMPs) in tiger shrimp farming in Suppa District. The results of the survey were used to inform the development of an aquaculture improvement program. In March 2014, WWF-ID conducted a socialization of tiger shrimp farming BMPs to 60 participants, consisting of 15 Marine and Fisheries Agency (DKP) staff and extension officers and 45 shrimp farmers and tiger shrimp hatcheries. In June 2014, WWF-ID conducted training on BMPs for tiger shrimp farming for Pinrang and South Sulawesi extension workers, involving researchers from the Maros Research Center for Brackish Water Aquaculture (BPPBAP), academics from the University of Muslim Indonesia (UMI) and tiger shrimp hatchery entrepreneurs from Suppa sub-district.

Previously, in May 2014, at the Meeting Room of Pinrang Regent's Office, WWF-Indonesia was invited as one of the stakeholders to discuss the synchronization of minapolitan area management and fisheries industry. At that time, Pinrang District Government invited 17 stakeholders who have been instrumental in advancing the Lowita minapolitan area (Lotangsalo Village, Wiringtasi Village, Tasiwali'e Village) in Suppa District. The purpose of this coordinating body is to increase cooperation and the active role of stakeholders in developing the Lowita area. Stakeholders involved in the meeting were the South Sulawesi Provincial Marine Fisheries Service, the Center for Marine and Fisheries Socio-Economic Research of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the Maros Brackish Water Aquaculture Research and Development Center (BPPBAP), the Takalar Brackish Water Aquaculture Center (BBAP), the Pinrang District DKP, WWF-Indonesia, the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science of UMI, the Pinrang Agricultural, Fisheries and Forestry Extension Agency (BP4K), BPR Sulawesi Mandiri, PT. Atina, PT Bigi, BBU Suppa, PT Esa Putlii, CV. Galaxi, Pokdakan Samaturue, Pokdakan Resopammase, and Camat Suppa. The result of the meeting was an agreement to form a coordinating body to accelerate the realization of environmentally sound and sustainable management of the minapolitan area in Pinrang Regency.

The joining of WWF-Indonesia in the coordinating body of Pinrang Regency minapolitan, implies that the Pinrang Regency Government and all other stakeholders give trust and support to WWF-Indonesia to increase the capacity of human resources of the cultivators in Pinrang to be able to practice sustainable and responsible aquaculture, so as to contribute positively to the development and economic growth of Pinrang Regency, especially from the aquaculture sector.