Aquaculture Production Expected to Increase 45 Percent Next Year
The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries said that aquaculture, or commercial fisheries, would overtake traditional fishing as the main source of Indonesia’s seafood in next year.
Soen’an Hadi Poernomo, the ministry’s head of information, said aquaculture production was projected to rise 45.1 percent next year to 7.4 million tons from 5.1 million tons this year. Wild fish output, the bulk of which comes from traditional small boat and platform fishing, is projected at 5.5 million tons, a 2 percent rise from this year’s expected 5.4 million tons.
In 2007, the fisheries industry was worth Rp 70.6 trillion.
The increasing numbers for fisheries has seen aquaculture production grow from 2.2 million tons in 2005 to 3.1 million fish in 2007, a 43 percent increase over two years.
He attributed the increase to government calls on fishermen to move from traditional methods to aquaculture because of high oil prices.
Fuel costs comprise about 50 percent of fishermens’ expenses. With oil prices soaring over the past few years, more fishermen have kept their boats at dock. “Therefore, we urged them to shift to aquaculture,” Soen’an said.
Arif Satria, a fisheries researcher, said that the ministry should also provide much-needed management of the sector.
“Aquaculture very much depends on water quality,” he said. Many local residents are using rivers and canals to farm their fish, which were at risk from pollution and overcrowding,” he said.
Soen’an Hadi Poernomo, the ministry’s head of information, said aquaculture production was projected to rise 45.1 percent next year to 7.4 million tons from 5.1 million tons this year. Wild fish output, the bulk of which comes from traditional small boat and platform fishing, is projected at 5.5 million tons, a 2 percent rise from this year’s expected 5.4 million tons.
In 2007, the fisheries industry was worth Rp 70.6 trillion.
The increasing numbers for fisheries has seen aquaculture production grow from 2.2 million tons in 2005 to 3.1 million fish in 2007, a 43 percent increase over two years.
He attributed the increase to government calls on fishermen to move from traditional methods to aquaculture because of high oil prices.
Fuel costs comprise about 50 percent of fishermens’ expenses. With oil prices soaring over the past few years, more fishermen have kept their boats at dock. “Therefore, we urged them to shift to aquaculture,” Soen’an said.
Arif Satria, a fisheries researcher, said that the ministry should also provide much-needed management of the sector.
“Aquaculture very much depends on water quality,” he said. Many local residents are using rivers and canals to farm their fish, which were at risk from pollution and overcrowding,” he said.