Medan, October 9, 2026 — Dr. Ahmad Muhtadi, S.Pi., M.Si., Head of the Undergraduate Program in Aquatic Resources Management (MSP), Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), served as a speaker at a technical consultation on the proposed designation of a conservation area in the waters of Pulau Pandang, Batu Bara Regency, on Friday (October 9, 2026). The activity was held online via Zoom Meeting and organized by the Directorate of Ecosystem Conservation, Directorate General of Marine Management, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).
The meeting followed up on a letter from the Governor of North Sumatra regarding the technical consultation on survey results for the designation of the Pulau Pandang Conservation Area. The discussion involved representatives from the KKP Directorate of Ecosystem Conservation, the North Sumatra Provincial Marine and Fisheries Agency, the Pekanbaru Marine Management Office, and a team of experts from Universitas Sumatera Utara, Universitas Negeri Medan, and Universitas Satya Terra Bhinneka.
As a speaker, Dr. Ahmad Muhtadi presented the scientific foundations for designing conservation areas, covering ecological conditions, socioeconomic potential, resource utilization, and proposed zoning. The presentation emphasized biodiversity protection as an integral part of marine resource management that supports sustainable fisheries and tourism.
During the discussion, the proposed conservation area was recorded as covering 658.93 hectares, including 10.42 hectares of coral reefs as a conservation target. The proposed area includes a core zone, a limited-use zone, and other zones according to the area's intended functions. The proposed zoning plan still requires adjustments based on the results of the technical consultation.
The meeting produced several recommendations for refining the proposal documents. Follow-up actions discussed included the need for the Governor to issue a decree on the reservation of the proposed area, the addition of information on coral reef coverage in each zone and community responses, and verification of plans for fisheries port development and aquaculture activities around the area. Maps and coordinate points also need to be adjusted to comply with the technical guidelines used as a reference for preparing the documents.
The involvement of academics in this process provides scientific support for the development of conservation policies. Ecological and socioeconomic data serve as a basis for designing habitat protection measures while considering community needs and resource-use activities around Pulau Pandang.
This activity aligns with the spirit of SDG 14: Life Below Water, particularly through strengthening the scientific foundation for protecting coastal and marine ecosystems. Collaboration among the central government, regional government, and higher education institutions also reflects SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through joint efforts to support sustainable resource management.
The participation of the MSP USU Head as a speaker demonstrates the contribution of higher education institutions in connecting research findings with regional policy needs. This technical consultation forms part of the process of refining the proposal for the designation of the Pulau Pandang Conservation Area, to strengthen ecosystem protection and ensure that marine resources continue to provide sustainable benefits for the community.