RI exports Arwana to Japan, China

RI exports Arwana to Japan, China

JAKARTA (Antara): Indonesia exported some 9,229 pieces of Arwana fish from January to May this year, up from 2,400 last year.

"Most of these were exported alive to Japan and China," an official of the Ministry of Forestry, Dwiyatmo Siswomartono, said here Monday.

He said the exports consisted of 5,729 of the "Scleropages Formosus" species and 3,500 of the "Scleropages Jardini" non- breeding species.

He noted that each 15 cm to 20 cm "super red" Arwana fish fetches a price of Rp 1 million (US$415); the "silver" kind of the same length Rp 125,000; and the "golden red" between Rp 250,000 and Rp 300,000.

"These fish are not for consumption. The Japanese and the Chinese want them because they believe this kind of fish brings good luck," he said.

Asked if there are plans to export the fish to the United States, Siswomartono said the U.S. government prohibits the selling and buying of the Arwana fish, which is a protected species.

Indonesia has 34 Arwana breeding grounds and three more will be built in Irian Jaya.