Following up on the series of visits by the Xiamen University delegation to IPB University in 2024, Prof. Luky Adrianto, Professor of the Department of Aquatic Resources Management (MSP), Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK) IPB University recently visited Xiamen University.

The visit by the Head of the International Maritime, Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (i-MAR) of IPB University was made at the invitation of Prof. Xue Xiongzhi, Dean of the Fujian Institute for Sustainable Ocean (FISO) Xiamen University.

During his visit, Prof. Luky Adrianto held three strategic meetings to discuss the research collaboration plan between Xiamen University and IPB University.

The first meeting was held with FISO Xiamen University and the Directorate General of Marine and Marine Space Management, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) of the Republic of Indonesia to discuss the technical plan for the preparation of marine spatial planning of Balikpapan Bay which will be carried out collaboratively involving the Center for Coastal and Marine Resources Studies (PKSPL) i-MAR IPB University. This action research activity will be carried out during the period 2024-2026.

Meanwhile, the second meeting was held intensively between Prof. Luky Adrianto and Prof. Ling Chao from FISO Xiamen University and Dr. Xin Zhao from Eastern Chinese Normal University (ECNU) Shanghai to prepare a research collaboration proposal. Raising the main topic of Multi-Scale Regional Fisheries Social-Ecological System (SES), the research collaboration will involve four countries, namely China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.

The proposal will be submitted through a competitive process through the Sustainable Development International Cooperation Program for research implementation from January 2025-December 2027. This research will involve the Social-Ecological System of Fisheries and the Ocean (SESO Lab); Fisheries Resource Management Division, Department of MSP IPB University; and PKSPL i-MAR IPB University.

In this research, Prof. Luky Adrianto is trusted as the Co-Principal Scientist on the proposal, while Dr. Xin Zhao from ECNU Shanghai acts as the Principal Scientist.

Finally, the third meeting was held between Prof. Luky Adrianto and Dr. Xudong Zhu, Deputy Director of the Mangrove Research Station (MRS) College of Environmental and Ecological Sciences (CEES) Xiamen University. In the meeting, both discussed the plan to establish a Sister MRS between MRS Xiamen University and IPB-Ketapang MRS in Tangerang, West Java Province.

The establishment of Sister MRS is the first Sister MRS at IPB University and will be part of the joint-monitoring and long-term observation for Blue Carbon Ecosystems between China and Indonesia. The Sister MRS activities will be carried out comprehensively and intensively by the MSP Department of IPB University supported by PKSPL i-MAR IPB University. This step is also part of achieving the vision and mission of the MSP Department of IPB University as one of the main hubs of the Blue Carbon Ecosystem in Indonesia and the region.