Indonesia is the second-largest fish producer in the world within the global marine fisheries market, with a catch reaching 78.8 million tons in 2020. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report of 2022, Indonesia ranks second globally as the largest marine fisheries producer with a marine fish production of 6.43 million tons.
As an archipelagic country established by the Djuanda Declaration in 1957 and reinforced by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Indonesia has approximately 17,500 islands, a coastline of 81,000 km, and around 62% of its territory consists of sea and waters.
The extensive sea and waters provide abundant marine resources, making the fisheries industry one of the main pillars of the national economy. The rich biodiversity in Indonesian waters supports the production of fish and other seafood products, which are crucial for both domestic consumption and export. Additionally, the long coastline and numerous islands offer opportunities for the development of aquaculture and a more diverse and managed capture fisheries sector.
Fisheries production in Indonesia is divided into 52.4% capture fisheries and 47.6% aquaculture. The potential for capture fisheries in Indonesia has not been optimally utilized. Data from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries shows that Indonesia has a capture fisheries potential of 12.5 million tons and a Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) of 10 million tons, with 12.4% of national production being capture fisheries from Maluku.
The fisheries sector, particularly capture fisheries, remains a primary livelihood source for the population of Maluku Province. This is evident from the number of fishermen in the province, which totals 205,000, or about 11% of Maluku's total population.
In 2020, the total export of capture fisheries production was 1,700 tons, valued at USD 11.4 million. Tuna and skipjack were the leading export commodities, comprising 82.20% of all capture fisheries export commodities.
Despite the large potential for capture fisheries production, the existing infrastructure is inadequate. Currently, fishing vessels in Maluku are predominantly traditional. These vessels are categorized into two types: those with a capacity of less than 30 GT and those with a capacity of more than 30 GT. There is potential to add 1,505 new vessels with a capacity of less than 30 GT and 1,415 vessels with a capacity of more than 30 GT in the WPP 714, 715, and 718 fishing zones, focusing on small and large pelagic fish catches.
Furthermore, maintaining the quality of catches is crucial, yet many fishermen struggle with preserving the quality of their catches due to inadequate processing methods. Maluku has 106 cold storage units with a capacity of 18,306 tons and 28 ice factories with a capacity of 587 tons, which is still far below the production of 259,000 tons of capture fisheries in the region.
The first canning industry in Maluku aims to increase the added value of capture fisheries products by transforming fresh tuna into fillet and canned tuna, creating significant export opportunities.
To address these challenges and harness the substantial potential of the fisheries sector, especially in Maluku Province, Indonesia needs to undertake integrated efforts to improve infrastructure. Developing modern fishing vessels, increasing cold storage capacity, and enhancing processing facilities are crucial steps to improving the quality and efficiency of fisheries production. Additionally, diversifying and advancing processing, can enhance value and support industry sustainability. By implementing these measures, Indonesia can optimize its fisheries potential, support the welfare of fishermen, and strengthen its position as a global leader in the marine fisheries market.
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