KKP Reveals Indonesia's Fisheries Sector Performance Remains Solid

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has stated that the national fisheries sector’s performance remains relatively solid amid challenging global economic conditions. Indonesia has proven capable of recording substantial average fisheries production annually. Minister of KKP, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, said the national average capture fisheries production is recorded at 7.5 million tonnes per year. Over the same period, the average aquaculture production is around 5.5 million tonnes, while national seaweed production reaches 10 million tonnes. Indonesia also consistently records a surplus, indicating that national fisheries exports are higher than imports of the same products. “So our exports average around US$6.5 billion. Meanwhile, our imports are less than US$1 billion, approximately around US$600 million more or less,” Trenggono revealed during CNBC Indonesia’s Economic Update 2026 with the theme ‘Performance Achievements and Direction for Strengthening the Ministry’s Priority Programmes’ on Wednesday (24/6/2026). According to him, this condition reflects the maintained competitiveness of Indonesian fisheries products in the international market. Additionally, the protein supply from fisheries for domestic needs is also confirmed to be secure. In order to strengthen fisheries production in the future, the KKP is also developing thematic aquaculture programmes in every village. Supported by mini RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System) technology, this programme is designed to reach 40,000 villages across Indonesia. “This means each year, if one site produces 30 tonnes, imagine if it were just a thousand villages. How much would that be? What if it were 40,000 villages? We would need the fingerlings alone. The fingerlings needed alone would be 15 billion. Fingerlings, more or less, each year,” he explained. In practice, the aquaculture commodities for each region will be tailored to the consumption preferences of the local community. On Java Island, for example, catfish and tilapia farming are the main focus, while in other areas commodities such as carp and gourami are developed. “Later we will adjust it to the demand conditions themselves and simultaneously, it is actually also for export interests. Like patin, for instance, we can develop that,” he said. Trenggono continued that amidst global economic uncertainty, his party is optimistic that demand for fisheries products will remain sustained. According to him, food commodities, especially protein sources, have characteristics that are relatively resilient to economic slowdowns because these commodities are already basic necessities for the community. This is then reflected in the trend of Indonesia’s fisheries exports over the last five years, which has continued to show an increase, although in terms of value and volume it still lags behind several major exporting countries such as China and Vietnam. Nevertheless, the KKP acknowledges there are still a number of challenges that must be overcome so that Indonesian fisheries products are more widely accepted in the global market. Among these are ensuring sustainable supply availability, uniform product quality, and timely delivery. To address this, the government is developing a large-scale modern shrimp farm in Waingapu, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). This modern farm is intended to boost national shrimp aquaculture productivity through the application of more modern technology and aquaculture standards. “We will first create a good, modern model scale that complies with correct aquaculture standards. Then the next stage, of course, we will correct and select community farms,” he explained. Not only that, compliance with international food safety standards is also key to the acceptance of Indonesian fisheries products in the global market. The case of Cesium-137 contamination in shrimp products intended for export to the United States some time ago has become a valuable lesson for all relevant stakeholders. Ultimately, the KKP is committed to continuously strengthening production governance and quality assurance so that Indonesian fisheries products are trusted in the global market. “We assured and explained until finally the USFDA (United States Food & Drug Administration) was convinced that the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries is appointed as the sole institution that can provide certification, especially in the fisheries sector,” Trenggono concluded.