October 28, 1928, the Youth Pledge declared the nationhood of Indonesia is land and  water, demonstrates that Indonesia is a nation who is aware of its identity as both  land and sea nation, a nation of farmers and sailors, and a nation who conquers the  mountains and oceans. The fouding fathers fully realized that waters, straits, and  seas in between the archipelago are an inseperable unison. Waters, straits, and seas  unified Indonesia’s thousands of islands - not separating them.

With an extensive area of waters exceeding its lands, and its strategic crossing  location, it is only natural for Indonesia to have a fundamental interest of  controlling and utilizing its sea, to have a strong idenfity and maritime culture as  well as to use its strategic location for the benefit of its people and to create  security wthin its region in accordance with its constitutional mandate to  “protect the entiry of nation and all of the people of Indonesia, to improve  public welfare, to educate the life of the people and to participate in the  establishment of a world order based on freeding, perpetual peace and social  justice”.

Sriwijaya’s power followed by Majapahit Kingdom in controlling the strait of  Malacca ant its success in creating equal relations with Chola Nalanda of India and  Tang Dinasty of China and also the victory of Sultan Fatahillah in removing the  Portuguese forces out of Sunda Kelapa Ba are clear evidence that Indonesia also has  a strong maritime strategy culture.

After the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence on 17th August 1945, the unity of  land and water of Indonesia became stronger as Indonesia, with diplomacy and without  firing any single bullet, managed to change high seas separating her islands into  waters under Indonesia’s sovereignty, in wich the implementation of its right  and obligations are guaranteed under international law of the sea 182. The  Convention was ratified by Indonesia into its national law. Sovereignty over the  archipelagic waters was finally secured after refutation from countries against  Djuada Declaration of 13th December 1957 and through difficult  multilateral negotiations for more than a decade whereby the international community  finally acknowledged Indonesia’s strong desire to realize the unity of its  land and water through a legal innovation, srarting from the process of unilateral  proclamation of archipelagic state until it become a general principle of  international law.

International recognition towards Indonesia as an archipelagic state has raised the  strategic value of geographic aspect of the Republic of Indonesia.  Indonesia’s strategic position is not only seen as an intersection of two  continents, Asia and Australia, and two oceans, the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean,  but also a location between the South China Sea and East Asia Sea and the Indian  Ocean, between the liberal individualism in the South and communism in the North,  between the commodity produces in the South and the commodity consumer in the North,  between the non-nuclear power in the South and the Nuclear power in the North.  Indonesia’s strategic position, along with geographical factors and  socio-economic condition, has also put Indonesia in an important position in the  global environment, namely in influencing political and economic stability and also  influencing regional and international security.

With the abundant marine resources and strong maritime culture, the spirit to  revitalize Indonesia’s maritime era is not impossible.  Djuanda Declaration 1957 has given a new hope to return  Indonesia as a maritime nation. The next step that needs to be taken is to change  the nation mindset, attitude, and its pattern of actions that are based on the  awareness of maritime areas as a place for Indonesian to conduct ocean-oriented  development. Therefore, a vision in maritime development sectors have become a  requirement and nececcity for Indonesia. Such vision is embodied through  Indonesia’s vision as Global Maritime Fulcrum (GMF), wich means that  Indonesia is a sovereign, advanced, independent, strong maritime nation that is able  to provide positive contribution for peace and security of the region and the world  in accordance with its national interest.

The GMF development includes (1) building Indonesian maritime culture; (2) maintain  the sea pace and marine resources, with a focus on building seafood sovereignty  through the development of the fishing industry by placing fishers as the main  pillar; (3) giving priority to infrastructure development and maritime connectivity,  by building sea highways, deep sea ports, logistics and shipping industries, and  marine tourism; (4) strengthening maritime diplomacy, cooperation in maritime  affairs, eliminating sources of conflict in the sea such as illegal fishing,  violations of sovereignty, territorial disputes, piracy, and marine pollution; and  (5) building maritime force of defense to safeguard maritime sovereignty and wealth  as well as the form of responsibility in maintaining maritime safety and security to  build maritime defense forces.

The GMF can be realized if there are precise, effective and competitive policies and  programs. These programs of maritime development are widespread within various  Miniterial and Non-Ministerial government istitutions. Therefore, the national  document of the Indonesian Ocean Policy is important to synergize and harmonize all  ocean-based development programs to be more focused and targeted so that results can  be measured.

Indonesia’s nature in itself has astrategic value for the Earth. Indonesia is  accountable for the second largest tropical forest in the world, around 2% of  world’s coral reefs, around 20% of the world’s mangrove  forests, around three million hectares of seagrass meadows, and a throughflow  location of great current from the Pacific and Indian Oceans. These render  Indonesian seas as a rich source of foor for the sea life.

The national Document of the Indonesian Ocean Policy will serve as guideline for  Ministerial and Non-Ministerial government institutions and local government in  planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the development in maritime  aspect, and alse as a reference for socuity in general and private scctors in  participating in the maritime development for the realization of the GMF. The  national Document of the Indonesian Ocean Policy is an instrument synergizing all  steps and movements of all stakeholders in achieving Indonesia’s aspiration  to become GMF.

Indonesian Ocean Policy covers very broad and complex aspects interconnected one to  each other. There are many actors involved in the implementation of marine and  maritime programs. The development of marine and maritime programs needs to be  implemented holistically, integratively, thematically, and synergistically towards  the realization of Indonesia as the World Maritime Fulcrum. In accordance with the  Global Mritime Fulcrum, Indonesia’s Maritime Policy consists of 7 pillars of  policy, principles, and 77 strategic programs. The road map compiled based on  Presidential Regulation number 16 of 2017 concerning Indonesian Maritime Policy  carries the target as a mission, one of which is “reviving maritime identity,  and maritime culture”.

Indonesian Ocean Policy is established with reference to the Indonesian Development  Vision as contained in Law Number 17 of 2007 on the Long-term National Development  Plan 2005-2025 and Law Number 32 of 2014. In order to implement such vision, it is  important to set the aim as the mission of Indonesian Ocean Policy, including  sustainable management of marine resource and ocean governance, maritime safety and  security development, maritime industrial growth enhancement, maritime culture  empowerment and human resources development.

The realization of Indonesian vision and mission should be in accordance with the  national interest, as well as just and optimum utilization of the welfare of  Indonesian people. Indonesian Ocean Policy is based on six basic principles, wich  are (1) wawasan nusantara; (2) sustainable development; (3) blue economy; (4)  integrated and transparent management; (5) participation; and (6) equality and  equitability.

Wawasan Nusantara is a long-term national vision and  the basis of implementation of national development in realizing the  Indonesia’s long-term development objective as contained in Decree of the  People’s Representative Assemply Number II/MPR/1993 on the General Guidelines  of Stetes Policy. Wawasan Nusantara is a national philosophy based  on Pancasila, the Five Principles of the State, and the 1945 Constitutional of the  Republic of Indonesia, namely Indonesian perspective and view about themselves and  their environment for national unity and integrity, as well as territory integrity  in the implementation of their life as a nation. Wawasan Nusantara  includes the embodiment of Indonesia archipelago as one political, economic,  soceial, culture entity, as well as defense and security unit.

Sustainable Development is an approach to ensure the development of  various economic activities must able to fulfil the needs od present and future  generation. Therefore, the economic development must be implemented based on  sustainable principle thus (1) the exploitation of resources must not exceed the  regeneration ability of the renewable natural resources or the place of innovaton of  substitution of the nonrenewable resources, as well as the utilization on  non-renewable resources would not cause damage to the renewable resources; (2) the  current exploitation of resources may not forfeit (the quality and quantity) the  needs of future generation; and (3) the exploitation of resources, which the impact  has not been recognized, must be conducted diligently and supported by reliable  scientific research. Sustainable development principle is also governed in Law  Number 32 of 2009 on the Environtmental Protection and Management.

The Blue economy is a model for economic development which integrates  land and ocean-based development while taking into account the carrying capacity of  the resources and environment. In principle, the resources of land, sea, and air  should be synergized to become Indonesia’s strength.

Integrated management is conducted in a multi-diciplinary,  interregional, inter-sectoral and cros-sector manner. Integrated, in the sense that  all aspects of the management shoud be unified under one system instead of treated  as separate components. In management system that is integrated, there must be  interrelation between one aspect and another to avoid overlapping authority. Such  management should also be carried out under the principle of transparency, using  clear regulations, being open in its formulation and execution, providing sufficient  information which easily understood by the various stakeholders.

The principles of participation is important as every stakeholder is  expected to play a role in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and controlling  in accordance with each individual role; to possess open information to understand  government’s policy and have sufficient access to utilize resources; to  ensure the existence of representatives of the sakeholders in decision-making and  take part in identifying threats and opportunities; and to utilize the resources  equitably.

The basic principle of equitability in Indoneai’s ocean development is to  ensure that individuals or groups of individuals are treated fairy, equally, and  mutual profitably, regardless of ethnic group, race, religion or belief, and gender  while prioritizing Indonesians who live in remote regions or those yet to be  well-connected outside of Java, Bali, Lombok, and Sumatera.

Therefore, connectivity between Indonesia’s existing economic centers and  other regions, such as Sabang, Natuna, Tarakan, Bitung, Miangas, Sorong,  Merauke, Saumlaki, Ambon, Timo, and Flores is  fundamental to the development of the people of Indonesia as a whole. Maritime  development in Indonesia is still concentrated on certain regions, especially in the  western part of Indonesia (Java, Bali and Sumatera). Indonesia’s ocean  development must be done in an Indonesia-centric, a “look east policy”  strategy, through tangible development programs on outer and remote islands,  prioritizing the improvement of the welfare of the lower income groups such as small  fishers and those working in the fishing industry.

Progress without equitability is not only contrary to the constitution, but is also  not in line with the main essence of development, that is, the improvement of  quality of human life. Economic inequlity will threaten the sustainability of  progress itself and can be even lead to actions which could threaten public  security.

There are seven pillars of Indonesian Ocean Policy, namely (1) the management of  marine resources and the development of human resources; (2) marine security, law  enforcement and safety at sea; (3) ocean governance and institution; (4) economic  and infrastructure of marine sectors and prosperity enhancement; (5) management of  ocean space and protection of marine environtment; (6) maritime culture; and (7)  maritime diplomacy.

The objective of marine resources policy is to optimize the utilization and the  exploitation of the marine resources in a sustainable manner through the principle  of blue economy. The economic growth in the maritime sectors are materialized  through sustainable development which efficient, value-added, inclusive, and  innovative; to support all economic activities, consisting of trade of goods,  services, and investment for the prosperity of the people.

The objective of the development of human resources policy is to enhace the capacity  of human resources in maritime sectors in the most professional, ethic, and  dedicated manner and putting national interest in supporting ocean development  optimally and comprehensively.