Declining Turnover: Cengkareng Ornamental Fish Traders Focus on Recovery and Innovation

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – An old building with peeling and faded paint stands as a silent witness to the struggles of ornamental fish traders at the Tempat Promosi Hasil Perikanan (TPHP) in Cengkareng, West Jakarta.

The ornamental fish sales centre, located on Jalan Cendrawasih I in West Cengkareng, has been a lifeline for traders for decades.

However, the atmosphere has changed dramatically. The former bustle has given way to silence.

Based on Kompas.com observations on Wednesday afternoon (29/4/2026), the TPHP building appears abandoned. The cream paint is dull, while the surrounding area is overgrown with wild plants and unkempt trees.

Several traders were seen sitting in front of their stalls, some smoking cigarettes and staring at their phone screens, waiting for customers who never arrive.

Whenever a visitor appears, they eagerly offer their wares.

The second floor is equally deserted. The spacious room, usually used for events or ornamental fish competitions, now stands empty without any activity.

Nando (44), a trader from Nagatawa Aquarium who has been selling for seven years, admits the current situation is far different from the past.

“We’re talking about crowds – back then, it was hard to even find a seat. The visitor traffic was so dense that we were too busy serving customers. Now, almost all traders are just sitting around, playing on their phones,” said Nando when met at the location.

The drop in visitors became sharply noticeable after the end of the Pemberlakuan Pembatasan Kegiatan Masyarakat (PPKM) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ironically, the pandemic period was a golden era for ornamental fish traders.

This was revealed by Arif (21), a trader from Calysta Aquatic.

According to him, when public activities were restricted, many people turned to keeping fish as home entertainment.

“Corona was indeed a problem, but in the fisheries sector, it turned it into a real tourist spot. Every day was busy. All kinds of fish sold well because so many people were bored at home. Especially betta fish – that really exploded,” said Arif.