Govt Aims To Up Fish Production By 2015

TheJakartaPost reports that the ministry estimates that production could reach 12.3 million tons in 2011, up from 11.2 million tons in 2010.

We plan to make Indonesia the worlds leading fish producer by 2015 and have thus targeted fantastic fish production levels every year, Minister Fadel Muhammad said on Thursday after opening the Indonesian Blue Revolution Expo and Forum 2011 in Jakarta. The production included fish, shrimp and seaweed to be produced by fishing and aquaculture techniques.

According to the ministrys director general of aquaculture, Ketut Sugama, seaweed accounted for up to 60 per cent of the total production.

It takes only 45 days to grow seaweed before farmers enjoy harvest time. We can cultivate seaweed in coastal areas and those without enough water, he said.

Mr Sugama also said the government would allocate Rp 100 billion (US$11.2 million) from the PKBL partnership development programme conducted by all state-owned companies.

The programme aims to increase seaweed production in Bali, Lombok, East Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Banten, Halmahera, Biak and West Papua.

Eastern Indonesia still has a lot of potential for seaweed aquaculture, he said.

He said that each small business group would receive Rp 30 million. The budget would be realised soon and would pay for seeds and infrastructure requirements, he added.

The groups would be charged six per cent interest per year. This year, seaweed production was projected reach five million tons and had reached 3.9 million tons as of June.

For fish aquaculture, the government will allocate Rp 1.045 trillion from the 2012 state budget, up from Rp 968 billion this year.

The government hopes to add to the 3.1 million aquaculture farmers already operating, increasing manpower to 4.95 million farmers next year, Mr Sugama said.

Besides budget allocation, the government also teamed up with foreign counterparts to reach the 2015 production target.

On Tuesday, Norway and Indonesia held their first one-day seminar on aquaculture technology involving Norwegian fish farming firms, research institutions and representatives from both countries in Jakarta.

Mr Muhammad said Norway was chosen for its advanced aquaculture technology and for being the worlds second-largest fish exporter.

Mr Sugama said the new technology promised genetic improvement, increased food production and disease prevention and could be applied at offshore areas in Lombok, as Indonesia has yet to fully developed this potential.

Genetic improvement allows a fish to gain one kilogram in six months, while currently we need one year, Mr Sugama said.

Faster growth would result in faster production and greater export trade, he added.