Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has officially declared Nusa Penida Island and Gili Matra Island in the Lombok Strait as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) during the 82nd Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting held in London in the United Kingdom. 

PSSAs are areas that require special protection due to their ecological, socio-economic, or cultural significance.

“This milestone shows Indonesia’s commitment to enhancing maritime safety and environmental protection,” said Hendri Ginting, the Head of the Indonesian delegation and Director of Shipping and Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation, in a statement on Friday (4/10/2024).

He added that Indonesia’s proposal was well-received by other IMO member states, noting it comprehensively presented data on biodiversity, ecology, and socio-economic conditions in the designated areas.

With this designation, Indonesia becomes the 19th country and the second in Asia, after the Philippines, to achieve PSSA status. 

Hendri hoped that this would open doors for additional PSSAs in other biodiversity-rich areas of Indonesia, fostering further conservation efforts.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)