Zulhas: Indonesian Fish Stolen Worth Over Rp 200 Trillion Annually

The Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, has stated the importance of paying attention to the welfare of fishermen, as they play a vital role in Indonesia’s food ecosystem and national sovereignty.

He noted that, according to reports from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, widespread fish theft continues to occur in Indonesian waters. He attributed this to Indonesian fishermen being unable to compete effectively with foreign counterparts.

“If our fishermen are weak, according to the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, our fish are stolen annually by an amount of approximately over Rp 200 trillion by Vietnam, Thailand, and India, because their fishermen are resilient,” said Zulhas during the book launch of ‘Indonesian Food: From Healthy Plates to Superior Humans’ in Jakarta on Friday (4/9/2026).

He argued that this lack of competitiveness stems from the fact that Indonesian fishermen are not yet prosperous. Consequently, he emphasised the necessity of supporting the welfare of local fishermen.

“Because they are prosperous (foreign fishermen) and possess large vessels. We do not; we only sail near the coast because our vessels are small,” he added.

Zulhas further noted that the disadvantage faced by Indonesian fishermen is also caused by their low bargaining power regarding their catches.

“What happens is that fishermen lack bargaining power. They lack support. No matter how hardworking they are, once they catch fish, they have no leverage. The offers remain low and the prices are cheap. If not, the fish simply rot. Therefore, the impact is very widespread,” he explained.

In his view, if the welfare of fishermen is neglected, it could also threaten national sovereignty.

“If our fishermen are poor, then our seas could be dominated by other fishermen,” Zulhas concluded.

To address this, he stated that the government is currently striving to ensure that fishermen’s catches achieve higher bargaining power. He explained that several methods are being implemented, including providing various forms of government assistance to both fishermen and farmers.

“Therefore, we must provide assistance to 60-70 million Indonesians. From decile 1 to 4, for rice. We must provide aid,” he concluded.