Seas at the Millennium: An Environmental Evaluation

B ing on production of the definitive book on

ack in early 1999 we received a flyer from Pergamon Publishers advertising that they were embark-

the state of the world’s oceans. Despite the high price, it seemed like a timely opportu- nity to acquire a true state-of-the-art refer- ence work that would help us put coastal and marine management in Indonesia into a truly global perspective. We expected the book would both help answer our partner’s questions about the current state of the world’s oceans and enable us to benchmark the condition of Indonesia’s seas with global trends. Surely a work of thus scale and with the contributions from the world’s most eminent marine scientists would be definitive. Perhaps we expected too much.

First impressions were positive. When

I was first asked to come and pick up this massive tome from our secure mailbox, I was amazed by the sheer bulk of this work - the 135 Chapters in the three volumes add up to some 11 kg! On a cost for weight or per page basis perhaps maybe this is not such an expensive book after all? But one must chapters on the Malacca Strait(s) - one written

be wary of such simple measures, particularly from the perspective of a UNDP/IMO project, where quantity may be inadvertently confused the other from a Singaporean context, the other with quality.

viewing the Straits in terms of the Western Indo- The work is structured into two distinct parts. nesian seas. None of these divisions makes such The first part (Chapters 1-106) covers two vol- sense, especially when one looks at the often- umes and some 1,800 pages and represents an significant geographic gaps in coverage elsewhere odd mix of regions and country level analyses. in the tome. For example, Eastern Indonesia, the Odd in the sense that while many of the chapters global center of marine biodiversity, is a “black cover standard global marine divisions, for rea- hole” as it receives no specific attention in any sons justified by the Editor, these are adjusted to part of the whole book - an unbelievable over- take into account the research interests of the 500+ sight! contributors or other geo-political factors. The

The Editor defends the logic and balance of resultant divisions make sense in some areas but these divisions, noting the difficulties of commu- are a source of much confusion in others. One of nicating with remote regions and in locating per- the worst examples of this is three overlapping sons with appropriate expertise. However, in a

Pesisir & Lautan Volume 3, No.3, 2001 work of this magnitude such excuses wear thin, the earlier-mentioned chapters on the Malacca

particularly given the obvious lack of represen- Strait(s). Additional short contributions are pro- tation of indigenous scientists from many coastal vided by Andreas Kunzman (Marine Ecosystems nations.

of Western Sumatra), Mark Erdmann (Destruc- The second part of the book (Chapters 107 to tive Fishing Practices in Indonesian Seas) and 135) is published as the concluding Volume and Annmarie Mah and Tomas Tomascik (Demise of some 498 pages. They deal with selected cross- Reefs in Jakarta bay). These feature articles add cutting issues of global significance such as sta- valuable insights to key issues introduced in the tus of key ecosystems such as seagrasses and background text. mangroves, or and species such as whales and

Despite being allowed the editorial latitude whaling and sea turtles. Somewhat disappoint- of a longer than average chapter (24 pages c.f. ingly, few of these incorporate data from the re-

17.5 average), very little of the material presented gional analyses presented in Volumes I and II.

is new and there is an overt emphasis on eco- There are also some cross-cutting analyses logical conditions with little mention of economic of fisheries impacts, ocean energy, effects of cli- and social aspects of Indonesia’s seas. Much of mate change, global legal instruments and ma- the information presented is summarized from the rine reserves. Most of these are the “stand out landmark work “Ecology of Indonesian Seas” and chapters” of the entire work. The synthesis of various EMDI-related studies and reflects the vast literatures from temperate and tropical re- state of knowledge up until around 1997 only. gions is not an easy task. Authors such as Clive Only limited mention is given to key develop- Wilkinson et al. (Coral Bleaching - Chapter 110), ments since 1998. Their conclusion is that “the Raquel Gori (Fisheries Effects on Ecosystems - status and prospects of western Indonesian seas p. 117) and Robert Costanza (Economic, Eco- at the Millennium appear very bleak indeed”. It logical and Social Importance of the Oceans - should be kept in mind, however, that this as- Chapter 135) show their considerable dexterity sessment is made with no overt acknowledgment in distilling key messages of the type one expects of the newly established Ministry of Marine Af- in a millennium benchmark book.

fairs and Fisheries (DKP).

However, like the first part of the book, this It is to be hoped that at some stage, Indone- part is also spoiled by a lack of balance in sub- sian scientists will rise to the obvious challenge ject scope and depth. For example, a chapter presented by this conclusion in two ways. Firstly (123) on the effects of mine tailings on the it will be an important achievement and sign of biodiversity of seabeds that I had expected to be maturation of domestic marine science capacity of great relevance turned out to be one of my great- when a comprehensive Indonesian State of the est disappointments - the chapter focused exclu- Seas is published. Secondly, and perhaps more sively on one long term study from a mine off- importantly, the numerous demonstration and shore from British Columbia, Canada. While it larger scale marine projects underway in Indo- is a well-written piece, it does not deserve a place nesia must obviously begin to add up to a more in this globally-oriented volume. Equally bemus- cohesive and systematic program of sustainable ing is the relegation of a broad chapter on persis- marine resource management. Only then will the tent organic pollutants (Chapter 81) to the region- prospects for Indonesia’s marine ecosystems, and by-region volume; such inconsistency of struc- the food millions of Indonesians who depend on ture is most confusing.

them for employment and income, look more And so what is in the book specifically for promising to the world. the Indonesian reader? In two words, not much. The main Indonesia chapter (78) was prepared

primarily by Canadian marine scientists, Evan Ian Dutton Edinger and David Browne and focuses on “Con- Coastal Resources Center, tinental Seas of Western Indonesia”, although this University of Rhode Island area is not strictly defined and also overlaps with crmp@cbn.net.id

T UJUAN

O BJECTIVES

Meningkatkan kepedulian masyarakat luas Increase public’s awareness of the benefits terhadap manfaat dari pengelolaan sumberdaya

of integrated coastal and marine resources pesisir dan lautan secara terpadu.

management.

Merangsang dialog di antara para praktisi dan Stimulate dialogue between practitioners pakar pengelolaan sumberdaya pesisir dan

and scientific community. lautan.

Share experience and learn lessons within Membagi pengalaman dan pengetahuan

the coastal and marine management di antara seluruh pemerhati masalah-masalah

community.

pengelolaan sumberdaya pesisir dan lautan.

R UANG L INGKUP

S COPE

Teknis, hukum, politik, sosial dan kebijakan yang Technical, legal, political, social and policy berkaitan dengan pengelolaan sumberdaya pesisir

that related to the management of coastal and dan lautan.

marine resources.

S ASARAN P EMBACA T ARGET A UDIENCE

Pejabat pemerintah dari seluruh tingkatan, Government officials at all levels, academ- kalangan akademik, para peneliti dan praktisi, serta

ics, researchers and practitioners involved in dis- berbagai kalangan pemerhati masalah-masalah

cipline of coastal and marine resources manage- pengelolaan sumberdaya pesisir dan lautan.

ment.

F ORMAT

Makalah penelitian dan kajian kebijakan (tidak Research and policy review papers (up to lebih dari 3.000 kata).

3,000 words).

Laporan singkat (menggunakan data yang lebih Research notes (usually based upon more terbatas dan tidak lebih dari 1.500 kata).

limited set of data and not exceeding 1,500 Artikel kajian (tidak lebih dari 8.000 kata).

words).

Komentar (opini tentang naskah yang telah Topic review articles (not more than diterbitkan dan berbagai macam isu lain yang

8,000 words).

sesuai dengan ruang lingkup jurnal, tidak lebih Comments (opinions relating to previously dari 1.000 kata).

published material and all issues relevant to Resensi Buku.

the journal’s objectives, not more than 1,000 words).

Book review.

Seas at the Millennium: An Environmental Evaluation