Agriculture ministry works to boost fishery exports

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Agriculture plans to develop marine aquaculture in line with a massive fishery development program aimed at bolstering exports to US$10.19 billion by 2003, compared to $2.04 billion in 1998.

Called PROTEKAN-2003, the integrated program will help fishermen increase production through training and easier access to financial assistance.

Minister of Agriculture Soleh Solahuddin, who kicked off the program, said there were great opportunities for expanding production since only 41 percent of fresh water fish resources and 0.31 percent of marine fish resources have so far been tapped.

"The government expects to generate $2.93 billion in export earnings from sea fisheries and $7.26 from inland and marine aquaculture," Soleh said.

According to Soleh, the program will accelerate the development of fishery industries by providing low-interest loans for fishermen and businesses, easing the regulations on imports of fishing vessels, expediting the licensing of sea fishing operations and enhancing fishermen's productivity through training programs.

Director General of Fisheries Untung Wahyono said the program would require Rp 34.64 trillion ($4.67 billion) in financing, of which Rp 30 trillion would come from bank loans and the fisheries industry and the remainder from the state budget.

He said PROTEKAN-2003 had proposed financial loans for fishermen amounting to Rp 2.2 trillion with a 10.5 percent interest rate.

But only Rp 1.8 billion has so far been approved, for 33 village cooperatives in 10 provinces, Untung said.

He said the government would work harder to crack down on illegal fishing by foreign fishermen and illegal exports.

"Foreign fishermen will no longer be allowed to fish in our waters starting next year except in cooperation with domestic companies," Untung said during the opening of a two-day seminar on marine culture and a fisheries exhibition at the Bidakara building.

At the opening ceremony, the minister presented awards to 10 companies that had met market standards for the quality of their fish and fish-related products.

He said that imports of fishing vessels had been eased but the import of wooden fishing boats was still prohibited, to protect traditional fishermen.

Untung said fishermen and businesses could now get their fishing and export permits within 16 days to three weeks, compared to more than a month previously.

He said marine aquaculture under the 2003 project focused on seaweed cultivation and carp and pearl farming.

According to Unting, exports of fish and fish products are expected to reach 800,000 metric tons, worth $2.13 billion, this year.

Last year, foreign exchange earnings from fishery exports increased by 7.3 percent to $2.04 billion from $1.9 billion in 1997.

Indonesia exported most of its fishery products to the United States, European countries, Japan and China. (01)