MEDAN – USU PUBLIC RELATIONS: The Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), in collaboration with the North Sumatra Provincial Marine and Fisheries Office and Regal Springs Indonesia, organized a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) titled "Synergy and Collaboration in the Sustainable Management of Pora-pora Fish as a Biological Resource to Support the Conservation of the Lake Toba Ecosystem." The event was held at the Bina Graha Building of the North Sumatra Provincial Government on Tuesday (August 4, 2026). The discussion focused on efforts to conserve pora-pora fish through collaboration among government agencies, academia, the private sector, and local communities.

 

The event began with a report from the Chair of the Organizing Committee, Jeny Masniari, S.Pi., M.MA, who explained that the FGD aimed to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders in ensuring the sustainability of pora-pora fish. Discussions also covered the current status of the pora-pora fish population, conservation initiatives, and the importance of research as the basis for developing fisheries management policies in Lake Toba.

 

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture USU, Dr. Rulianda Purnomo Wibowo, S.P., M.Ec., stated that collaboration between universities, government institutions, and industry is essential to producing research that supports the conservation of the Lake Toba ecosystem.

"When academia, government, and industry work together, the resulting research can serve as the foundation for policies that preserve the environment while benefiting local communities," he said.

 

Dean of the Faculty of Forestry USU, Prof. Dr. Arida Susilowati, S.Hut., M.Si., explained that the outcomes of the FGD would serve as the basis for developing a research roadmap on pora-pora fish conservation. She also expressed hope that the establishment of the Toba Fishery Sustainability Center would strengthen collaboration among government, academia, and industry in supporting the sustainable management of Lake Toba.

"This research center can serve as a collaborative platform for producing meaningful research and supporting sustainable Lake Toba management policies," she said.

 

Echoing this view, Rachmat Hidayat, Head of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability at Regal Springs Indonesia, reaffirmed the company's commitment to supporting research and long-term conservation efforts for pora-pora fish. According to him, preserving Lake Toba can only be achieved through the collective commitment of all stakeholders.

"We hope this collaboration marks the beginning of developing effective policies to protect pora-pora fish and preserve the Lake Toba ecosystem," he said.

 

The North Sumatra Provincial Secretary, Sulaiman Harahap, S.H., M.SP., CGCAE, represented by the Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Marine and Fisheries Office, Sabar Jaya Telaumbanua, S.Pi., M.Si., conveyed in his remarks that conserving pora-pora fish requires the shared commitment of all stakeholders. The event also featured the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Faculty of Agriculture USU and Regal Springs Indonesia, strengthening cooperation in research and environmental conservation.