Jakarta (17/09) - WWF awarded the "Leaders for a Living Planet Award" to Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia. The Leaders for a Living Planet Award is given to individuals in the world who contribute significantly to nature conservation and sustainable development.

The award was presented Friday, September 16, 2016 in Washington DC by WWF International President, Yolanda Kakabadse, in conjunction with the "Our Ocean Conference" hosted by the United States Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Ibu Susi Pudjiastuti has dedicated her time to eradicating illegal fishing practices, promoting science-based sustainable fisheries management, and strengthening ocean health by expanding the network of marine protected areas. She is a figure who fights to protect Indonesia's ocean health."

During her career, Ibu Susi has issued policies to protect ocean health, including ratifying the Port State Measures Agreement, introducing minimum catch sizes for some biota, banning the use of environmentally damaging fishing gear, establishing marine protected areas, and encouraging the protection of marine species.

Indonesia, with its abundant fisheries potential, is currently the second largest producer of capture and culture fisheries in the world (FAO, 2016). However, the country's losses due to illegal fishing practices reach US$20 billion per year (World Bank, 2015).

"Ibu Susi Pudjiastuti has shown firmness and consistency in eradicating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing to safeguard Indonesia's marine resources. As a maritime country, Indonesia's marine sector assets must be protected and managed effectively for the welfare of the people and the sustainability of the planet. WWF hopes that Ibu Susi will continue her breakthrough to improve sustainable fisheries management by expanding marine protected areas that contribute to fulfilling Indonesia's commitment to the Aichi Targets," said WWF-Indonesia's Coral Triangle Program Director Wawan Ridwan.

Since 2000, more than 100 individuals have received the WWF Leaders for a Living Planet Award for their various initiatives, including local movements to protect animals, to leading government efforts to achieve conservation goals. The list of recipients in recent years includes former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries, the Prime Minister of China and the Ministers of Water Affairs of France, Togo and Benin.

The "Leaders for a Living Planet Award" honorees are individuals who inspire leadership and personal responsibility for nature conservation. Their actions make an important contribution to the achievement of WWF's priority global conservation goals. Combined, multiplied and magnified, their efforts can make a major contribution to saving the planet we live on.

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For more information, please contact:

Nyoman Iswarayoga, Director of Communication & Advocacy, WWF-Indonesia
Email: [email protected], Hp: +62 811 1284 868

Note to Editors:
More details about the Leaders for Living Planet Award can be accessed at
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/wwf_awards/wwf_leaders_for_a_living_planet_award/