VIVAnews - Approximately 57 small islands scattered around southern Trenggalek regency, East Java, are still unnamed. Their natural potentials have not been identified as well.
“The islands are scattered, starting from Panggul water to Prigi, Watulimo sub district,” Trenggalek regency’s Head of Martime Resources and Fisheries Agency, Agung Sujatmiko said, as quoted by tvOne on Friday, October 23.
He admitted that the small islands could yet be used maximally. The procedure of island identification and the mapping of natural potentials of the 57 islands are also very complicated.
“We have to seek permission from the Local Affairs Department and recommendations from the provincial government. Also, because island naming is overseen by the international law, PBB must also approve it,” Sujatmiko said.
Another challenge in the identification of the islands is the different perceptions between Trenggalek local government and Tulungagung regional government on some of the islands located in the borderline between the two regions.
According to Sujatmiko, the anonymous islands have considerable amount of swallow nests.
Due to the absence of budget to optimize the resources, the swallow nests are reportedly often stolen.
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Translated by: Nataya Ermanti
