Jakarta (Greeners) – Indonesia has massive maritime richness and marine potential.
With sea and coastal areas cover 2/3 of Indonesia territory or 5.8 millions square kilometres with 97,000 kilometer long, it depicts promising marine potentials ready to be developed.
However, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti said those potentials have yet to give significant contribution to the country’s income.
Indonesia has only managed to achieve US$ 1 billion per year income from marine tourism, up to date.
“If we can develop those potentials, then economic value, in terms of income, increase people’s income, create jobs, and other multiplier effects can also be attained. So, it’s natural that Indonesia push forward marine and fisheries as one of the country’s main drivers for national development and welfare,” said Susi in a press release received by Greeners in Jakarta on Friday (13/11).
Furthermore, Susi said that Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will be focusing to strengthen national fisheries industry to achieve Global Maritime Axis vision and ASEAN Economic Society implementation.
Necessary policies were set up to ensure the industry’s stability and development.
In addition, government investments through infrastructure development such as harbor, cold storage, fish processing plant and other supports to local including boats and fish processing equipments.
During the past year, policies focusing on illegal fishing, Susi added, have been showing significant impacts for local fishermen starting from increasing fish catch, better quality and shorter fishing time.
Nevertheless, Indonesia is still behind for its competitiveness as a result of lack support from financing industry to the sector.
“Generally, financing industry has yet to give their support to fisheries sector, which on the contrary, increasing while global economic downturn,” she said.
Consequently, Susi welcomed JARING program as credit for fisheries industry and national banking supporting the program were increasing.
“I hope through this JARING program socialization, financing industry will support fisheries industry especially providing investment and capital for local fishermen, fish farmers, processing industry and distributor,” she added.
To strengthen fisheries industry in Malang district of East Java, the Ministry allocated Rp 5.23 billion, — Rp 195 million for ‘pemindangan’ (fish salting process) equipment and minced fish processing, Rp 663 million for ornamental fish, albumin processing tool and fish flour equipment and Rp 302 million for education and capacity building.
The ministry also gave grants for marine tourism, including floating house, boat, diving equipment, tourism information center and basic diving lessons for tour guides.
One of location receiving the grant was Sendang Biru of Tambak Rejo village, Sumber Manjing Wetan subdistrict, under Bhakti Alam Conservation Foundation chaired by Saptoyo.
The foundation received Rp 4.07 billion grant of floating house with 2 units of boats and 3 units diving gears.
Reports by Danny Kosasih
21 Apr 2024 
