Cage farming method in East Kalimantan yields abundant fish production

The use of cage farming methods by fish farmer groups has proven to yield an abundant supply of freshwater fish production in East Kalimantan Province. “Through this floating net cage method, we have been greatly assisted in multiplying the harvest of tilapia commodities each month while maintaining quality standards,” said Muhmajadi, Head of the Gawi Baimbai Sejahtera Fish Farmers Group (Pokdakan) in Loa Kulu, Kutai Kartanegara, on Sunday. The success of these freshwater fish farmers is reflected in the high production volume statistics, where the cage farming method contributed the most dominant harvest portion of 92,525 tonnes out of a total of 99,559 tonnes in the past year. The freshwater fish types include tilapia, carp, catfish, and pangasius. He explained that the Kutai Kartanegara Regency area is currently receiving special attention from the local government to be focused on as a production backbone through a pilot Aquaculture Farming Village for the superior tilapia commodity. “We continue to strive for technical assistance and distribute more adequate facilities and infrastructure so that the community’s cage capacity can produce freshwater fish optimally,” said Irhan Hukmaidy, Head of the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Service (DKP) of East Kalimantan. These intensive business development efforts and continuous education are now targeting around 95 active fish farmer groups in several areas fostered by the DKP of East Kalimantan. In addition to continuously spurring the growth rate of harvest abundance in the cages, the DKP of East Kalimantan is also overseeing the guarantee of proper sanitation standards and the cleanliness of water areas from the threat of environmental pollution. “Compliance of farmers with food safety guidelines is crucial to ensure that the harvested commodities are truly free from heavy metals, so they remain safe for public consumption,” Irhan stressed. Thanks to this solid collaborative synergy from upstream to downstream, the total freshwater aquaculture production achievement in East Kalimantan has reached 99,559 tonnes per year. He believes that the high supply of quality fishery food from the cage system is capable of opening up prospects for market expansion to other regions while boosting the economic welfare of fish farmers.