Authored by : Fitri Aulia | 3 November 2020
Having known as the largest archipelagic nation and world’s largest maritime country, with 17,480 islands and around 70 percent of its total territory is water, Indonesia plays a big role in marine resource industries across the globe. It become among the top five of fishery and aquaculture major key players in the world.
TRENDS
The fisheries sector plays an important role in Indonesia’s economy through income generation. Among the five main export destination countries, one includes Japan with a value of USD 143.82 million (11.59%) in 2020.
There are various types of exported commodities, namely TTC (Tuna, Tongkol, Skipjack Tuna /Cakalang) as well as shrimp and octopus.
Its tuna fisheries are among the largest producers worldwide. According to Indonesia’s Report to Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO), in 2017, Tuna catch amounted to 646.000 tons. Though it has experienced a slight contract from the previous year, it is also stated in the report that Indonesia accounts for 16 percent of global tuna production.
In April 2020, The Indonesia Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries conducted a press release claiming that Shrimp dominated exports with a value of USD 466.24 million. Followed by Tuna, Tongkol, Skipjack Tuna/Cakalang (TTC) with a value of USD 176.63 million, Cuttlefish-octopus with a value of USD 131.94 million, Crabs with a value of USD105.32 million, and seaweed with a value of USD 53.75 million.
Source: The Indonesia Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Infographic made by IRIJ)
Amidst the Covid-19 global pandemic, optimism has emerged from the marine and fisheries sectors. The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) noted that fishery product exports in the first semester of 2020 reached USD2.4 billion, an increase of 6.9% compared to the same period last year. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the export value of Indonesian fishery products in March 2020 reached USD 427.71 million, showing an increase of 6.34% compared to exports in February 2020. Meanwhile, compared to March 2019, it increased by 3.92% (Data could be seen in the Table Below).
Source : Badan Pusat Statistik (Infographic made by Seafood-tip)
The increase in the value of Indonesian fisheries exports during the first semester of the 2020 period was influenced by the restrictions on imports from China as one of the largest exporting countries due to the coronavirus outbreak in that country. As a result, the activities of exporting countries such as Indonesia have also diverted the direction of exports to the US and European markets, which are the largest markets for shrimp and TTC.
What are the Business Opportunites?
During this pandemic, when everything was knocked backward, the preparation of the food sector experienced an increase in seafood production. In Indonesia, overall, fish consumption shows an increasing trend year by year. According to The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Indonesia’s fish consumption has reached 55.95 kg/capita per year in 2019. The KKP is targeting an increase in the national fish consumption rate from 56.39 kg/capita/year in 2020 to 62.50 kg/capita/year by 2024.
They plan to increase this by maximizing sources from fishing activities and aquaculture of fishery products in Indonesia. The aquaculture commodity itself includes freshwater fish, non-shrimp marine fish, and shrimp. Harvest locations are scattered in several areas such as Aceh, Bengkulu, North Sumatra, South Sumatra, Lampung, Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung Islands, Central Java, East Java, West Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Kalimantan to Maluku.
The Most Consumed Type of Fish
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, they are TTC (Tuna, Tongkol, Cakalang), Mackerel, Anchovy, Tilapia fish, Parrotfish, Milkfish, Selar, and catfish.
National Program to Increase Fish Consumption
To increase fish consumption, since 2004 the KKP has initiated a national program to promote fish-eating (GEMARIKAN) which carried out various activities, including open campaigns, public service advertisements broadcasting, and all-fish cooking competitions. The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) also has continuously collaborated with related ministries and agencies to protect fishermen and other business actors in the Indonesian marine and fisheries sector. This includes the participation of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) such as PT. Perinus (Perikanan Nusantara). If anything, these opportunities during pandemic open a huge chance in maximizing the overall productivity of the Indonesia Fisheries Sector.
References
(KKP), The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. 2020. 2020, KKP TARGETKAN KONSUMSI IKAN 56,39 KG . Jakarta: KKP.
Informatics, Ministry of Communication and. n.d. Konsumsi Ikan (Jenis Ikan Paling Banyak Dikonsumsi). Jakarta.
KKP. 2020. Pandemi Covid-19, Estimasi Panen Perikanan Budidaya Capai 450 Ribu Ton Sepanjang April Hingga Juni 2020 . Jakarta: KKP.
KKP. 2020. TRIWULAN I 2020, NILAI EKSPOR PERIKANAN CAPAI USD1,24 MILIAR . Jakarta: KKP.
Tip, Seafood. 2020. Members’ Trade Data Analysis: Indonesia Q1 2020 Summary. https://seafood-tip.com/members-trade-data-analysis-indonesia-q1-2020-summary/.