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.
View moreOther Sectors
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 Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) is encouraging increased production of export-quality anchovies on Pasaran Island, Bandar Lampung City, Lampung Province to support the fisheries industry and boost the local economy. Marine Affairs and Fisheries Deputy Minister Didit Herdiawan stated in Jakarta on Dec. 29, 2024, that the effort is done by empowering women in the area so they have the ability to create quality anchovy products.
"As one of the best anchovy producers in Indonesia, processed products for export can be an additional source of income for fishing families [in Pasaran Island]," said Didit after meeting Pasaran Island residents.
He added that women's empowerment element of the initiative is done in collaboration with the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Ministry to improve business capabilities and diversify products based on local wisdom.
"It is very important to improvef women's ability to produce value-added products while increasing household income," Didit said.
He also appealed for the facilities and infrastructure that have been built by the KKP on Pasaran Island, which has been designated as a modern fishing village (Kalamo), to be utilized to increase income and added value.
"Good management can certainly minimize [the impact of when] fish supply is low so [the fishers] do not lose their market," Didit noted
Meanwhile, KKP Marine and Fisheries Products Competitiveness Improvement (PDSPKP) Director-General Budi Sulistiyo explained the results from the monitoring and evaluation of the 21 members of the fisheries cooperative on Pasaran Island. He said that the average production volume of anchovy processing in the area is two to five tons per month, while their monthly revenue reached Rp20-50 million.
The workforce employed by a processing business unit is around 10 to 20 people, which are divided into workers in sorting and cleaning, drying, as well as packaging duties. Currently, the anchovy products' marketing targets are largely the Jakarta and Lampung regions.
"We continue to monitor developments here after it has been inaugurated as a Kalamo. Of course this is part of the state's attention towards coastal communities. We encourage cooperatives to be more innovative in opening up market opportunities, both domestically and abroad," said Budi.
During his work visit to Lampung, Deputy Minister Didit also took the time to visit the Lampung Marine and Fisheries Product Quality Control and Supervision Agency (BPPMHKP). In one of the KKP technical service units (UPT), he gave direction for all KKP units to improve public services and collaborate between work units to provide quick solutions to the local community as part of efforts to accelerate the realization of food self-sufficiency in Indonesia
The Kalamo initiative is part of KKP Minister Wahyu Trenggono's blue economy program, which aims to increase the productivity of fishing communities through the provision of various fisheries infrastructure by the KKP. Apart from Pasaran Island, Kalamo has also been built in Biak Island, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua Province.
