KKP Boosts Fish Farming to Reduce Reliance on Sea Capture

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is beginning to promote a major transformation in the fisheries sector through strengthening aquaculture. This step is being taken to reduce reliance on capture fisheries, which have resource limitations. Acting Secretary General of KKP Andy Artha Donny Oktopura stated that Indonesia’s aquaculture potential remains very large and has not been optimally utilised. “We have potential aquaculture land of nearly 17.9 million hectares, but what is currently utilised is still less than 10 percent,” he said at the Food Summit 2026 CNBC Indonesia forum themed “Indonesia Food Safety Urgency: Towards a New Policy Framework” in Jakarta on Monday (27/4/2026). With this potential, the government sees a great opportunity to increase fish production from the aquaculture sector. This transformation also follows global trends, where many countries are shifting focus to aquaculture. “We will optimise this potential to increase production from the aquaculture subsector and reduce reliance on capture,” Andy said. As a concrete step, KKP is preparing the development of tens of thousands of thematic aquaculture sites in various regions. This programme aims to create an integrated industry chain from upstream to downstream. “We will implement the development of 40,000 thematic aquaculture sites to increase production and create a new industrial ecosystem,” he explained. In addition to production, quality aspects are a primary concern. The aquaculture system will be improved to meet food safety standards. Standardisation is carried out from production inputs to processing processes. “All production inputs must be certified and aquaculture activities must meet good aquaculture practices,” Andy emphasised. With this strategy, KKP is optimistic that the aquaculture sector can become a new engine for economic growth as well as a pillar of food security. “This is not just about production, but also ensuring safe and quality food,” he concluded.