Indonesia's first ornamental fish complex completed

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An ornamental fish complex worth Rp 18.5 billion (US$2.2 million) has been completed in Cibinong, West Java, the government announced on Wednesday.

The complex, which can accommodate fish from about 3,000 breeders and traders in Greater Jakarta, will function as a research and grading station, selecting and improving the quality of the fish before they are exported to countries around the world.

Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries official Sumpeno Putro said the complex could increase the value of Indonesian ornamental fish exports to US$50 million per year from US$15 million last year.

"The complex will be officially launched by President Megawati Soekarnoputri on March 14. This is only the first phase of the project, which will cover an area of 17.5 hectares at a total cost of Rp 88 billion."

"We want to see how phase one performs before continuing to the next stage," he said.

The funds needed to build the complex came from the state budget and the land was contributed by the Indonesian Institute of Science. The Bogor Residence built a Rp 5 billion bridge to connect the complex.

Indonesia captures only 7.5 percent, or US$15 million, of total world market share for ornamental fish. This is low, considering the country has 4,500 kinds of the world's ornamental fish, more than half of the estimated total of about 8,000 species. About 300 kinds have been identified and named while around 50 have been bred and commercialized.

"Singapore, which has only a few kinds of fish, can capture about 22.5 percent of the world's market share because they have the ability to condition the fish they have imported from Indonesia before they sell them," Sumpeno said.

Botia fish that Singapore imported from Indonesia for Rp 500 a fish could be sold to the international market for US$2 each. Singapore imported millions of Botia fish from here each season, he said.

"That means Singapore can make hundreds of millions of dollars profit from only one kind of fish. If we can sell straight to the international market we can improve our exports significantly."

The plant in Cibinong would enable local breeders to sell their fish directly to potential buyers around the world, he said.