REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Deputy for Human Resources, Science, Technology and Maritime Culture of the Maritime Affairs Coordinating Ministry, Safri Burhanuddin, said that marine waste is a global problem because it does not recognize national borders.

The statement was made by Safri after addresing a discussion panel titled Combatting Marine Plastic Debris held at the second IORA Ministerial Blue Economy Conference here on Tuesday 

The conference which is organized by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs involved 21 member states of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Furthermore, Safri said that Indonesia has offered cooperation to a member countries on handling waste in the Indian Ocean.

Also read: World Bank lauds Indonesia's effort in combatting marine plastic debris

"The Indian Ocean is the second largest garbage landfill after the Pacific Ocean. What we offer in this case is a partnership to tackle the problem. We know that the waste issues do not recognize national borders," Safri noted.

He explained that the Coordinating Ministry is working with Australia by collaborating researches on tracking the spread of waste.

"The research tracks the waste, so we can formulate actions to tackle it," he explained.

That is a precautionary measure which can be taken by the government as once the waste has reached the ocean, the cost of waste management can be 10 times more expensive than the cost of preventive measures, Safri said.

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