MINISTRY OF MARINE AND FISHERIES PLANNED TO REALIZE MARINE AND FISHERY INDUSTRIALIATION

           Indonesia has a very big marine potency, especially fishery. But, the big potency is not yet utilized optimally for social welfare. Therefore, the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries (MMAF) planned to increase volume of fishery production. Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Cicip Sutardjo, promised to accelerate marine and fishery industrialization process as one of the foundations for improvement of Indonesia’s economy.

             According to Sharif, marine and fishery industrialization will bring progress to the society. And, it can also create an expansive work opportunity for the society, increase, and becoming stronger in economic development. He expected that the industrialization program can increase national fish production. At present, target of fihery production for 2012 is at 13.8 million tons. This amount consists of 5.4 million tons of capture fisheries and 8.4 million tons of culture fisheries.

          According to him, MMAF will increase culture fishery production. This is because capture fishery production cannot be predicted. He calculated that fish population in Indonesian water is around 6.4 million tons, but those who can be captures is only around 80%. In addition to promoting marine and fishery industrialization, his party also reminded of the importance of protecting Indonesia’s fishery potency and illegal fishing.

              Sharif demanded so that culture fishery production can be multiplied considering that its potency is very big. Culture fishery potency reached more than 15 million hectares consisting of brackish-water fish culture potency of 2.9 million hectares and sea culture potency of 12.5 million hectares. Culture fishery potency consists of sea culture, brackish water fish culture, pond culture, and floating net fish culture. He explained that currently, for new brackish-water pond, only 682,858 hectares that have been realized. A majority of them are traditional brackish water ponds, while realization of sea culture only reaches 117,649 hectares.

            But, he reminded that fishery industrialization requires a strong synergistic between central government and regional government to guarantee achievement of increase of competitiveness and sustainability of production from the upstream to the downstream. According to him, it is difficult for fishery industrialization to run smoothly if there is no strong relationship between the upstream that produces raw materials and attractiveness of the downstream related to processing and marketing. Attempt to increase competitiveness must cover improvement on both sides.

            He explained that synergistic among central government, regional government, private sector and other business communities is the key to the success business communities is the key to the success of the attempt to increase competitiveness. He explained that marine and fishery sector is highly potential to become a motor of regional and national development if it is managed properly. One of the strategic attempts is by accelerating fishery industrialization though empowerment to increase production and revenue of the business operators.

            The Minister said that industrialization policy is a priority strategy and program taken by MMAF, and it is also intended to increase added value of fishery business operators. In the future, small and medium businesses (SMB) in fishery sector will be able to produce value-added fishery products and to expand national and international markets. For that purpose, MMAF provide assistance in the form of ice production machinery, cold storage, machinery to produce processed value-added products, cold chain system, mobile marking facility in the form of cars for elucidation on processing technology and “I like to consume fish” campaign.

 Business News - April 18, 2012