The 29th Workshop on Managing Potential Conflicts in the South China Sea had been held in Harmoni One Hotel, Batam, Indonesia, 11-12 September 2019. The Workshop was co-organized by the Policy Analysis and Development Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Indonesia and the Center for the Southeast Asia Studies. The Workshop was attended by 54 participants from China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, The Philippines, Chinese Taipei, and Viet Nam. The Indonesian delegation from Marine Research Center, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, who are attended in this workshop i.e.: Dr. Widodo Pranowo, Dr. Budhi Gunadharma Gautama and Nicolaus Naibaho, S.H., M.ILIR.
Dr. Widodo Pranowo of Indonesia presented the Hydrodynamics and Transports in the Natuna Sea and South China Sea as Transboundary Pollution Analysis Reference. In his presentation, he elaborated that seawater mass in the Natuna Sea and the South China Sea are estimated to be composed by seawater mass originated from Bay of Bengal, as well as the North Pacific Subtropical and Intermediate Water. The seawater mass and current circulation in the Natuna Sea and South China Sea are strongly influenced by monsoonal wind. The unique Natuna Offself Current is presented to be likely transporting pollution intyo Natuna Sea and South China Sea, and then into related coastal waters.
His presentation proposed following recommendations: (1) The necessity to understand the relationship between the characteristic of seawater mass, hydrodynamics, and transport in Natuna and the South China Sea; (2) The needs to establish a joint research (consortium) to develop the science plan related to hydrodynamics and transport study on the Natuna Sea and South China Sea; (3) The need institute the working group to develop anticipatory measures of transboundary pollution in the Natuna Sea and the South China Sea.