20 Nano-satellites to Launch for Map Sea Activities, Minister Says

Jakarta – The Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono has stated that 20 Nano-satellites will be launched and operate in 2024 to map conditions and activities at sea. 

"A total of 20 nano-satellites will be launched and begin operating in 2024. The collaboration with Starlink will be carried out to help fishing vessels send data online using the e-PIT (Electronic Measured Fishing) application," Minister Trenggono informed at a seminar held to commemorate National Maritime Day on Friday.

The Minister said that the launch of nano-satellites is a part of the marine space management strategy being developed by his party to support development based on a blue economy, namely Ocean Big Data.

Ocean Big Data will be built using devices based on land, sea, and air such as ships, underwater drones, aerial drones, and nano-satellites to map sea activities, sea conditions, and the habitat, according to the Minister. 

The ministry has also developed an Ocean Accounting tool to measure all marine space utilization activities, pollution, and damage as well as conservation, rehabilitation, and restoration efforts to increase Indonesia's marine wealth, Minister Trenggono explained. 

"Ocean Accounting can also predict the impact of each marine space utilization permit on the medium- and long-term conditions of marine ecological functions,"

Minister Trenggono also explained:  "The need to maintain a balance between ecological and economic sustainability through the use of the blue economy approach to make better use of the sea at the national and global levels,"

He said that the ministry has prepared a marine and fisheries development policy based on blue economy to maintain the sea and other environmental services, including by expanding marine conservation areas, expanding conservation focus to protect carbon reserve areas and biodiversity, increasing oxygen production, and securing spawning areas.

The government is also implementing a quota-based measurable fishing policy in six predetermined zones to reduce the extractive use of marine space, which causes damage to coastal ecosystems and small islands, the Minister continued. 

"The management of Indonesia's marine and fisheries resources must utilize ecology to maintain a balance between ecology and economy, which aims to improve community welfare," Minister Trenggono concluded.