Jakarta. As host of the upcoming Our Ocean Conference, Indonesia will propose a review mechanism to strengthen international commitments on sustainable ocean conservation, two ministers said.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti highlighted the importance of tracking commitments by countries, especially considering the urgency of preserving the ocean's health to safeguard the future.

"We no longer want a conference where there is only talking, without any concrete [action]. So this is our aim, with the fifth Our Ocean Conference in Indonesia, to establish a tracking [mechanism]," Susi said.

Participants in last year's conference in Malta made a total of 437 commitments and financial pledges amounting to about €7.2 billion ($8.3 billion).

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi added that Indonesia would also propose the establishment of a best-practices directory, which could serve as a reference for countries to tackle similar issues.

More than 1,600 delegates, including government officials, representatives of civil society and youth groups, and private individuals, will attend this year's conference in Bali on Oct. 29-30.

Retno told reporters that several heads of state have confirmed their attendance, including Prince Albert II of Monaco, Nauruan President Baron Waqa and Panamanian Vice President Isabel Saint Malo.

The two-day conference will have six main themes, which are protected marine areas; climate change; sustainable fisheries; marine pollution; sustainable blue economy; and maritime security.

As an archipelagic state with more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia said its concerns over the ocean's health coincide with those of smaller developing island nations, which are facing rising sea levels.

"When we speak of climate change … the ocean will be the first to be impacted. When ice in the Arctic and the Antarctic melt and ocean levels rise, chances increase that these small islands will disappear," Susi said.

Long-Term Benefits

During Wednesday's press conference, Susi also touched on how Indonesia stands to benefit as host of this year's event.

She said the country would reap "big, holistic" benefits in the long term, as the conference will discuss issues relating to ocean resources and productivity as part of efforts to slow global warming.

"As the host, we can be loud; we can raise what we consider to be the most important issues. We are also leading [the conference]," Susi said.

Efficiently addressing matters affecting the oceans will also positively impact forestry and agriculture, she added.

Retno echoed this sentiment, reiterating Indonesia's vision of making a positive contribution to the international community.

"President [Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo] has always said that as a big country, we must also contribute… Maritime diplomacy and our hosting of the Our Ocean Conference are concrete realizations of our leadership on oceans, or ocean-related issues," she said.

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