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 House of Representatives' recess budget has nearly doubled this year, despite mass protests over what the public views as lawmakers' excessive housing allowance amid economic hardships and ongoing calls for budget efficiency. Such budgetary controversies will likely persist, given Indonesia's long-standing tradition of poor accountability in public spending.
For fiscal year 2026, the House's total budget has surged to Rp 9.9 trillion (US$600 million), a 47.8 percent increase from Rp 6.69 trillion previously. House Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad acknowledged the increase in recess funds, noting that each lawmaker would now receive Rp 702 million per recess, compared to Rp 400 million per member of the 2019-2024 House.
However, evidence circulated recently of a Rp 756 million transfer to each lawmaker in August 2025, instead of Rp 702 million. According to Dasco, this was the result of an error by the House Secretariat General.
A recess is when lawmakers conduct activities outside the legislature, meeting constituents and gathering their aspirations through regular work visits to their districts.
Dasco justified the increased recess budget by citing a rise in the number of locations lawmakers were required to visit. He added that the House was now tightening reporting requirements via a new app. Intended to improve accountability, the system requires members to log the location and type of activity and upload related documentation of each visit, including any results.
The recent demonstrations in August-September were triggered by lawmakers' high take-home pay, as determined by a new budget structure for 2025 agreed by the House Secretariat General and the Finance Ministry. The mass protests, many of which turned violent and in some cases targeted officials' private residences, were initially triggered by the new housing allowance of up to Rp 50 million per month that was introduced to replace the provision of official residences.
Following public backlash, the housing allowance was abolished on Aug. 31, but the communications allowance was increased to partially offset the cut, though the total amount remains smaller.
To further respond to public pressure, overseas visits have been suspended at least until the end of this year. These trips have long been viewed as one of the biggest spending items for lawmakers, with virtually no measurable or accountable outputs.
Unfortunately, Indonesia's budgeting culture treats budget absorption as a key indicator of annual performance that institutions must meet to maintain or increase future allocations. As a result, House bureaucrats tend to focus solely on spending, often with little regard for whether their budget use strengthens institutional function.
