Called a Sought-After Superfood, Native Indonesian Fish Is Still Rarely Farmed

The snakehead fish (ikan gabus) has the potential to be a superfood thanks to its abundant nutritional and functional food content. The high albumin and protein levels in snakehead fish extract have also led healthcare professionals to recommend its consumption during post-operative recovery periods.

Unfortunately, despite its significant health benefits, consumption of snakehead fish among the public remains relatively low. One reason is that the availability of snakehead fish on the market is not yet as widespread as other types of consumption fish.

Indun Dewi Puspita, a lecturer in Fishery Product Technology at the Faculty of Agriculture, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), explained that snakehead fish has a slightly higher protein content compared to other freshwater fish. While the average animal protein source contains around 20 per cent protein, the protein content in snakehead fish can reach 23 to 25 per cent.

“Snakehead fish may not be a fish commonly consumed by the public. Indeed, this fish has its own market segment,” she said, quoted from the official UGM website.

According to Indun, one of the main reasons people seek out snakehead fish is its high albumin content. Albumin itself is an important protein that plays a role in helping the cell regeneration process, maintaining fluid balance in the blood, and supporting the distribution of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.

She explained that the high albumin levels in snakehead fish are suspected to be related to its habitat, which consists of swamps or muddy waters with relatively low oxygen levels. These conditions cause the snakehead fish to adapt by producing albumin in higher quantities.

“Usually, people look for albumin, for example after surgery. Albumin can help accelerate cell regeneration,” she clarified.

Besides albumin, snakehead fish also contains various other beneficial nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids. Although the omega-3 content in marine fish is still higher, Indun assessed that snakehead fish remains superior compared to most other freshwater fish.

Because of its health benefits, many snakehead fish extract products are now available in supplement form. However, according to Indun, consuming snakehead fish directly still offers greater advantages because one can obtain the various other nutrients contained within it.

“If you consume the fish directly, you can get other nutrients. For instance, there have been several reports mentioning unsaturated fatty acids,” she explained.

To process snakehead fish, she advised against using excessively high temperatures so that the protein content and other nutrients are not damaged. She recommended cooking methods such as steaming or boiling into soup. These methods are better than frying or grilling for a long time, which can damage the structure contained in the fish.

Despite its high nutritional value, the utilisation of snakehead fish still faces several challenges. One is the supply availability, which still largely depends on wild catches. She noted that unlike catfish or tilapia, which are already widely cultivated, snakehead fish is still relatively rarely farmed on a mass scale.