East Kalimantan is widely recognized not only for its vast forest\nareas and its role as a major producer of coal, oil, and natural gas,\nbut also for its abundant marine and coastal resources, which play a\nvital role in supporting the regional economy.<\/p>\n
Among the various aquatic produce, tiger prawns have emerged as a\npromising commodity, capable of penetrating the international market and\ngenerating foreign exchange.<\/p>\n
Export data for the January\u2013May 2026 period underscores the\nimportance of this commodity, highlighting that well-managed natural\nresources can enhance public welfare while maintaining environmental\nsustainability.<\/p>\n
According to Irma Listiawati, Head of the Aquaculture and\nStrengthening of Fishery Product Competitiveness Division of the East\nKalimantan Marine Affairs and Fisheries Service (DKP Kaltim), tiger\nprawn exports reached 769.9 tons with an economic value exceeding\nRp173.3 billion (US$9.4 million) in the first month of 2026.<\/p>\n
This figure places tiger prawns as the dominant commodity,\ncontributing more than half of the province\u2019s total fishery export\nvalue.<\/p>\n
Recognized globally for their superior quality, tiger prawns have\nbecome one of the region\u2019s flagship commodities. Their firm meat,\ndistinctive natural sweetness, and stringent hygiene standards continue\nto drive strong demand from international buyers.<\/p>\n
Four other commodities have also strengthened East Kalimantan\u2019s\nposition in the global market, consisting of pink prawns, with 239.2\ntons of shipments valued at Rp31.6 billion (US$1.7 million), followed by\n89.3 tons of fresh grouper worth Rp7.4 billion (US$403 thousand), fresh\nsilver pomfret with 59.7 tons at a value of Rp6.7 billion (US$365\nthousand), and 27.7 tons of white shrimp valued at Rp4.7 billion (US$256\nthousand).<\/p>\n
East Kalimantan\u2019s fishery products are now distributed to 12 main\ndestination countries, with Japan, the United States, China, and\nMalaysia remaining the most established export markets.<\/p>\n
Efforts to preserve product freshness and meet international quality\nstandards are carried out by the local government through collaboration\nwith business players in the form of fast distribution channels. One\nsuch innovation is a direct cargo flight service from Balikpapan to\nWenzhou, China, operated twice weekly by Rimbun aircraft.<\/p>\n
Listiawati said that fast delivery is crucial for maintaining the\nquality of fresh products such as prawn, fish, and crab, ensuring their\nhigh sales value when they reach consumers.<\/p>\n
Coastal Wealth<\/p>\n
This export success is inseparable from the natural resources of East\nKalimantan\u2019s vast and fertile coastal areas. The tiger prawns shipped\nabroad originate from production centers spread across four districts,\neach with its own characteristics and advantages.<\/p>\n
Kutai Kartanegara District holds the largest supply, with primary\nproduction locations in Muara Jawa, Samboja, and Anggana Sub-districts.\nHere, prawns are produced in integrated and traditional ponds managed\nfor generations.<\/p>\n
Average production reaches 45\u201355 tons per month, with a total\naccumulated by mid-June 2026 of 290 tons. The calm waters and fertile\nsoil make this region ideal for shrimp cultivation.<\/p>\n
Berau District ranks second, with main production centers in Tanjung\nBatu, Suaran, Pegat Batumbuk, and other areas around Derawan Island.<\/p>\n
Unlike other regions, most of the prawn here is produced through\nsustainable cultivation systems and natural catches that maintain\nquality. Average production ranges from 28\u201335 tons per month, or a total\nof 190 tons for almost the first six months of 2026.<\/p>\n
Penajam Paser Utara (PPU) District is considered as the\nfastest-growing region. Taking place in Waru, Sepaku, and Babulu\nSub-districts, the prawn farming sector in PPU is growing in line with\nthe development of the Indonesian Capital City (IKN).<\/p>\n
In addition to meeting local demand, production reaches 18\u201324 tons\nper month, or 125 tons from January to mid-June, further strengthening\nexport supplies.<\/p>\n
East Kutai District also contributes to the production with an\naverage production of 8\u201312 tons per month, or 60 tons, as of\nmid-June.<\/p>\n
Balikpapan City then serves as a processing and sorting center in the\nKariangau region, before the commodities are sent to the port or airport\nfor export.<\/p>\n
East Kalimantan\u2019s average tiger prawns exports range from 125\u2013150\ntons per month, with a cumulative total reaching 830 tons by mid-June\n2026. This figure fluctuates depending on the cycles of the rainy and\ndry seasons, and the harvest period, but remains stable and\nincreasing.<\/p>\n
Environmentally friendly cultivation<\/p>\n
The competitiveness of East Kalimantan\u2019s tiger prawns in the\ninternational market is supported by environmentally friendly and\nsustainable cultivation practices.<\/p>\n
Amid global concerns on the impact of aquaculture on coastal\necosystem damage, East Kalimantan has implemented a new model, one known\nas Shrimp Carbon Aquaculture (Secure), a result of mentoring by the\nBerau District Fisheries Office and the Nusantara Nature Conservation\nFoundation (Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara\/YKAN)<\/p>\n
The principle of this system eliminates land expansion to boost\nharvest yields.<\/p>\n
In this model, only about 20 percent of the land area is used for\ncultivation, while the remaining 80 percent is returned and protected as\nmangrove forest. This approach has been widely implemented in the Berau\nregion and is being introduced to other areas such as PPU and Kutai\nKartanegara.<\/p>\n
Through mentoring, farmers are trained to manage pond systems in a\nway that supports productivity and ecological harmony.<\/p>\n
They are trained to produce compost and local microorganisms (MOL)\nfrom organic materials around the ponds to maintain water fertility and\nreduce dependence on chemical fertilizers.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, nursery techniques are also introduced to strengthen the\nshrimp fry and increase their survival rate.<\/p>\n
Abdul Rahman, a shrimp farmer in Pegat Batumbuk Village, Berau, said\nthey once believed higher yields depended on maximizing pond\nexpansion.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn reality, leaving<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tiger-prawn-exports-from-east-kalimantan-reach-rp173-3-billion-boosting-coastal-economies-1782109208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }