Medan – The Undergraduate Program in Aquatic Resources Management (MSP), Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting science-based fisheries resource management through the participation of two of its lecturers in the Scientific Panel of the Fisheries Management Area of the Republic of Indonesia (WPPNRI) 571.

The two MSP USU lecturers who participated in the activity were Dr. Ahmad Muhtadi, S.Pi., M.Si., Head of the Undergraduate Program in Aquatic Resources Management, and Amanatul Fadhilah, S.Pi., M.Si. Their participation was part of the academic contribution to supporting the provision of information and scientific considerations for the management of fish resources in WPPNRI 571.

WPPNRI 571 is a fisheries management area covering the waters of the Malacca Strait and the Andaman Sea. This area is important for the fisheries sector, particularly for the northern coastal region of Sumatra, making its management dependent on data, scientific studies, and collaboration among various stakeholders.

Through the scientific panel forum, various information and research findings related to fish resources can be discussed comprehensively as part of strengthening the scientific basis for fisheries management. The participation of academics in the forum is important for bridging research findings with the needs of fisheries resource management in the field.

For MSP USU, the participation of Dr. Ahmad Muhtadi and Amanatul Fadhilah in the WPPNRI 571 Scientific Panel is also in line with the study program's field of expertise, which places aquatic and fisheries resource management, conservation, environmental monitoring, and ecosystem-based management as important components in the implementation of the Three Pillars of Higher Education.

The activity also served as a strategic platform for MSP USU lecturers to interact and exchange knowledge with researchers, government representatives, and other stakeholders. This interaction is expected to strengthen the connection between research findings, scientific development, and the needs of fisheries management policies.

Participation in the WPPNRI 571 Scientific Panel can also provide benefits for the development of education at MSP USU. Issues, data, and developments in fisheries management discussed in the scientific forum can enrich the learning process, student research, and the development of lecturers' research topics, particularly those related to fish resource dynamics and aquatic ecosystem management.

This participation also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 – Life Below Water, through strengthening the sustainable management and utilization of fisheries resources, as well as SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, through collaboration among higher education institutions, the government, researchers, and stakeholders in managing fisheries resources.

Through the involvement of lecturers in scientific forums and fisheries management activities such as the WPPNRI 571 Scientific Panel, the Undergraduate Program in Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture USU, continues to encourage the active role of academics in generating and translating scientific knowledge to support the sustainable management of Indonesia's aquatic and fisheries resources.

Alternative Title: Head of the Study Program and Lecturer of MSP USU Participate in the WPPNRI 571 Scientific Panel to Support Science-Based Fisheries Management