Sector
Fishery
Indonesia, boasting the title of the world’s largest archipelagic country with a vast sea area of 5.8 million square kilometers, stands as one of the largest producers and suppliers in the global fisheries market. The abundance of sea area provides Indonesia with a wealth of fisheries products, making fisheries a national leading sector in the country.
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Fishery
Indonesia, boasting the title of the world’s largest archipelagic country with a vast sea area of 5.8 million square kilometers, stands as one of the largest producers and suppliers in the global fisheries market. The abundance of sea area provides Indonesia with a wealth of fisheries products, making fisheries a national leading sector in the country.
There are 23 regions where fisheries stand out as a leading sector, supporting local economies and providing food security. These regions encompass Aceh, Bengkulu, Riau, Lampung, South Sumatra, Central Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and North Kalimantan. Other regions include Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Maluku, North Maluku, Papua, West Papua, and Bangka Belitung.
In 2022, Indonesia’s fisheries sector contributed a total of Rp505 trillion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Building this strong foundation, the country set an ambitious target of reaching US$7.2 billion in fishery exports by the end of 2023. Previously, total fishery product exports had hovered around US$5 billion to US$6 billion.
Supporting the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP is its production. Throughout the third quarter of 2023, Indonesia’s fisheries production totaled 24.74 million tons. This figure includes both capture fisheries and aquaculture. In aquaculture, the main commodities are seaweed cultivation and shrimp cultivation, while in capture fisheries, the main commodities are tuna, skipjack tuna, and mackerel tuna.
Furthermore, Indonesia’s fisheries sector is experiencing a surge in investment. By the third quarter of 2023, the sector had attracted a total of Rp9.56 trillion in investment, with significant contributions from a mix of domestic sources at Rp5.32 trillion, foreign investors at Rp1.4 trillion, and credit sources at Rp2.84 trillion. Notably, China is the largest foreign investor, contributing Rp370.74 billion, followed by Malaysia with Rp240.4 billion, and Switzerland with Rp152.89 billion, highlighting the increasing international interest in Indonesia’s fisheries potential.
While Indonesia boasts impressive fisheries production and growing investments in its fisheries sector, it is vital to uphold fisheries regulations. These regulations ensure that this valuable sector thrives alongside healthy marine ecosystems. It is reported that Indonesia is scheduled to enforce a new fisheries policy in 2025, which will see quotas assigned to industrial, local, and non-commercial fishers across six designated fishing zones, covering all 11 fisheries management areas (FMAs) in Indonesia. The new quota system responds to a worrying rise in overexploited FMAs, which have increased to 53 percent from 44 percent in 2017.
Latest News
The corruption scandal engulfing the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has significantly amplified public skepticism toward President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free nutritious meal program. What began as policy criticism has since escalated into street protests.
By late June 2026, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) had named six suspects in an alleged graft case involving the governance of the program for the 2025–2026 fiscal years. The suspects include three former senior BGN officials, alongside Asep Yusuf Somantri, a close associate of former BGN deputy head Sony Sonjaya; Andri Mulyono, a commissioner at PT Yasa Artha Trimanunggal; and Glory Harimas Sihombing, chairman of the Indonesia Food Security Review Foundation.
The investigation deepened when Sonjaya reportedly disclosed 41 names allegedly involved in the illicit trading of Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) locations. While Sonjaya sought justice collaborator status, prosecutors rejected the request, arguing that he functioned as a principal actor rather than a secondary participant capable of exposing higher-ranking figures. Meanwhile, the AGO has left open the possibility of questioning the newly appointed BGN head, Naniek S. Deyang. Because Deyang previously served as the agency's deputy head, her promotion has drawn sharp scrutiny from observers who argue that promises of institutional reform ring hollow when leadership changes amount to little more than an internal reshuffle.
Constitutional review petitions challenging the diversion of education funds for the free meals program are currently being examined by the Constitutional Court. Chief Justice Suhartoyo indicated that the court aims to conclude its review of the three petitions by the end of June, with formal rulings expected in July. This judicial process will be pivotal, not only for determining the legitimacy of this specific funding mechanism but also for clarifying the limits of executive discretion over constitutionally protected public resources.
As these legal battles unfold, public opposition on the ground has intensified. Dissatisfaction has manifested in a wave of nationwide demonstrations, accompanied by broader criticism of President Prabowo's governing style, which protesters link to contemporary economic hardships. This unrest has mobilized diverse coalitions of students, women's groups and civil society members across major urban centers, including Makassar, South Sulawesi; Denpasar, Bali; Bandung, West Java; Semarang, Central Java; and Jakarta.
Political researchers argue that this widespread friction cannot be uncoupled from perceptions of an increasingly centralized, top-down governance model. The fact that dissent now extends well beyond traditional student movements suggests that concerns over the program are no longer confined to political activists, but are resonating deeply at the grassroots level.
Conversely, a distinct counter-mobilization has surfaced. Employees and operators of the SPPGs recently rallied near the National Monument in Jakarta to voice their support for the initiative. Teachers, students, kitchen staff and service unit owners participated in the demonstration, emphasizing the program's tangible nutritional benefits and demanding its uninterrupted continuation.
However, political observers caution against interpreting these pro-program rallies as entirely spontaneous expressions of public goodwill. Governments facing crises of legitimacy have historically relied on structured counter-narratives and organized support bases to reshape public perception.
The timing of these pro-free meals demonstrations is also telling, coinciding with the BGN's decision to temporarily suspend the program during the 18-day school vacation period. During this hiatus, SPPG operators forfeit the Rp 6 million (US$335) daily operational incentives typically provided by the government.
Even if support for the continuation of the program is entirely authentic, it is heavily viewed through the lens of economic self-interest. This shifts the broader debate surrounding who truly represents the program’s rightful beneficiaries. While the initiative was originally designed to improve childhood nutrition and elevate educational outcomes, the controversy has increasingly centered on the commercial actors embedded within its implementation chain.
