FIO Scientific Delegation Conducts Series of Activities on Deep-Sea Habitat Protection in Indonesia
From November 18 to 20, researchers from FIO visited Indonesia and carried out a series of activities focused on community service for deep-sea habitat protection and educational enhancement with Jenderal Soedirman University (UNSOED). Through thematic exchange workshops and specialized educational lectures on deep-sea habitat conservation held in fishing communities and university classrooms, both sides further raised awareness among local fishermen and university students regarding the protection of deep-sea marine environments. This initiative has injected new vitality into marine biodiversity conservation and China-Indonesia marine cooperation.
On November 18, FIO, together with UNSOED, successfully organized a community service exchange workshop on deep-sea habitat protection at the Community Fisheries Port Management Office in Cilacap, Central Java, Indonesia. The workshop focused on the potential impacts of fishing activities on deep-sea habitats and facilitated in-depth discussions with local fishermen. Representatives from Indonesian community fisheries management departments and experts from UNSOED were invited to attend, sharing insights on topics such as the current status of marine fisheries development in Indonesia and the impact of noise pollution on deep-sea habitats. Following the workshop, FIO's delegation conducted a field visit to the fishing port to further investigate the maritime activities related to the local fishermen's production and daily lives. This activity strengthened community residents' awareness of deep-sea protection by popularizing knowledge about deep-sea habitats and their ecological value, as well as promoting sustainable fish resource management, thereby laying a solid foundation for reducing human disturbances to marine ecosystems.
Group photo of FIO delegation and local community members in Cilacap
From November 19 to 20, FIO successfully held specialized educational lectures on deep-sea habitat protection on the UNSOED campus. By integrating domestic and international deep-sea scientific data and research findings, the lectures guided students in learning about the distribution areas, species-specific richness, ecological functions, and population types of deep-sea biological communities in an accessible manner. During the interactive session, participating teachers and students engaged in in-depth discussions on advanced investigation technologies for deep-sea habitats and the current state of international high-seas protection. These lectures effectively deepened university students' understanding of deep-sea habitat biodiversity, inspired a sense of responsibility among young scholars for deep-sea habitat protection, and laid a talent foundation for the future development of deep-sea conservation efforts.
Group photo of FIO delegation and representatives of teachers and students from UNSOED
Q&A session
This series of activities marks another collaboration between FIO and our Indonesian partners following the previous initiatives on mangrove conservation and restoration. The cooperation has now extended from nearshore ecology to deep-sea protection, providing a significant reference for long-term collaboration in multiple fields through community services and university education, among other approaches. In the future, FIO will continue to deepen cooperation with Indonesia in capacity building and scientific outreach, jointly contributing to advancing the China-ASEAN Blue Partnership and building a maritime community with a shared future.