DILI, 25 august 2023 ( TATOLI)– Executive Director of the Foundation MAHEIN (FM) Nelson Belo, recommends the Government strengthen the National Maritime Authority (ANM) and carry out trilateral cooperation between Timor-Leste, Australia and Indonesia to ensure the wealth of the Timor Sea.
“We recommend to the Government through the Ministry of Defense to strengthen ANM with capacity training and provide integrated equipment such as; patrol boats and related sophisticated equipment to support them in controlling the Timor sea effectively to ensure marine wealth,” Nelson Belo told TATOLI at his office in Grinsenfor, Dili, Friday.
Belo added: “Trilateral cooperation between Timor-Leste, Australia, and Indonesia is very important because we are neighboring countries. With the existing cooperation, we will control and eradicate illegal fishing and illegal transactions that have occurred in the Timor Sea so far,” said Belo.
In addition, Belo recommended that the Ministry of Defense and its partners produce a National Security handbook to guide ANM and its partners so they can work effectively in controlling the Timorese sea resources.
“The Ministry of Defense must work with partners to produce a National Security Handbook as one of the guidelines to be used by ANM,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry show that in 2020 – 2022 Timor-Leste lost more than 20 million tons of fish, and if it is calculated in money, Timor-Leste lost around $ 35 million to 60 million annually.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Belo
