KKP: Shrimp Pond Development Does Not Require Mangrove Conversion
The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has asserted that increasing national shrimp production can be achieved by optimising existing ponds without opening new land through mangrove conversion.
Fernando Jongguran Simanjuntak, Director of Brackishwater Fish at KKP, stated in Jakarta on Thursday that shrimp aquaculture hubs are already spread across numerous provinces from western to eastern Indonesia. These regions include Aceh, Lampung, South Sumatra, West Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, East Kalimantan, and Central Sulawesi.
According to Fernando, future shrimp aquaculture development should focus on increasing the productivity of available ponds through the implementation of technology. “This is in line with how we can develop shrimp aquaculture in the future without further converting new mangrove areas,” he said.
He noted that the development of shrimp aquaculture is part of the KKP’s Blue Economy programme, meaning production increases must proceed alongside environmental sustainability. KKP is also encouraging the development of integrated shrimp aquaculture areas to improve management efficiency from upstream to downstream.
This model encompasses the management of water sources, aquaculture ponds, wastewater treatment, as well as seed and feed management. One such model is being developed in Waingapu, East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara.
KKP is also modernising ponds through the Infrastructure Improvement for Shrimp Aquaculture Project (IISAP) in Pinrang, South Sulawesi, by implementing technologies such as oxygen generators and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Fernando stated that existing aquaculture models can serve as references for farmers to increase productivity without expanding ponds into new areas. This effort aligns with the ‘Towards Sustainable and Conversion-free Aquaculture in Southeast Asia’ (TOSCA) project, implemented by the Indonesia Climate Change Trust Fund (ICCTF) alongside Bappenas and KKP, with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) via the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
TOSCA aims to build a sustainable shrimp aquaculture business ecosystem that does not rely on ecosystem conversion, through policies, research, capacity building, and knowledge support.