Indonesia Uses Only 20 Percent Of Fisheries Potential

Jakarta, Dec 5 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has so far exploited only 20 percent of its fisheries potential, according to former maritime affairs and fisheries minister Rokhmin Dahuri. "In 2011, Indonesia`s fish production potential was about 65 million tons, but we produced only 13.4 million tons, or 20.7 percent," he said during a seminar on "Agribusiness Outlook 2013", held here on Wednesday. Three quarters of Indonesia`s territories are seas, and 8 percent of the nation`s land area includes lakes, dams, rivers and swamps, Dahuri noted. "With the help of biotechnology and aquaculture, we can not only produce more fish and seafood, but also algae and other foods," he continued. Indonesia has the potential to become a global food barn. There are huge business opportunities in the fisheries and maritime sectors. The country can produce a lot of fish through aquaculture as well as mariculture, Dahuri stated. However, he added, Indonesia`s fisheries products were less competitive compared with those of other countries. In 2011, Indonesia`s fisheries exports were valued at US$3.5 billion, while the exports from Vietnam and Thailand were valued at US$6.2 billion and US$8.5 billion, respectively. Last year, Indonesia was ranked fourth globally in shrimp production, after Thailand, China, and Vietnam. Since the establishment of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the country`s fish production increased significantly from 3.9 million tons in 1999, to 6 million tons in 2004, and 13.4 million tons in 2011. Fish production cost in Indonesia is lower than that of other fish producing countries such as Japan, South Korea and China. "However, our productivity is also lower than those countries, due to the lack of two things: modern fisheries technology and professional management practices," Dahuri said.