Minister Inaugurates Indonesian Aquaculture 2014 Event

Jakarta, Aug 27 (Antara) - Maritime and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo inaugurated the Indonesian Aquaculture 2014 event themed "Aquaculture for Business and Food Security" here on Tuesday. "Indonesian Aquaculture is an annual event, but this time it is more important because it has more strategic value in developing the marine and fisheries sector," the minister noted. He remarked that besides serving as a medium to showcase the various developments and achievements in the field of aquaculture during the past five years, the Indonesian Aquaculture 2014 event can also be a source of inspiration to formulate future aquaculture development plans and strategies. "Therefore, I urge all stakeholders in the field of fisheries to use this event as an opportunity to develop their businesses and to ensure the success of Indonesian Aquaculture 2014," Sharif stated. Aquaculture plays an important role in reducing unemployment in Indonesia, an archipelago with more than 17 thousand islands and a coastline of about 81 thousand kilometers. Aquaculture development can be potentially carried out in an area of about 26.606 million hectares. Aquaculture in Indonesia is practiced in fresh, brackish, and marine waters using a variety of production facilities and methods for producing and cultivating a wide range of marine species.