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

July 10, 2025

The East Java Provincial Government's Trade Mission to West Nusa Tenggara Province recorded final transactions of Rp1.07 trillion, a significant increase compared to the Rp251.39 billion reached by the previous trade mission held in 2023. It is also the highest trade mission transaction value in 2025, exceeding the Rp1.05 trillion reached from East Java's trade mission to East Kalimantan in May 2025.

The trade mission was led by East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa at the Lombok Raya Hotel in Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara on July 9, 2025. She expressed optimism that the trade mission will create new and broader opportunities for businesses and investment in East Java and West Nusa Tenggara.

"Alhamdulillah, the final transaction value reached Rp1.07 trillion as of 17.00 WITA (Central Indonesia Time), with East Java's [total] sales [to West Nusa Tenggara reaching] Rp764.91 billion [while its purchases from the province] reached Rp153.89 billion. East Java['s total] investment [to West Nusa Tenggara also reached] Rp150 billion. The [realized] transaction value exceeded our target, and we hope it will continue to grow the economies of both provinces," Khofifah stated. "Therefore, let's increase transaction results to strengthen collaboration today and in the future."

The West Nusa Tenggara Trade Mission was attended by 200 businesspeople from both provinces, consisting of 80 from East Java and 120 from West Nusa Tenggara.

"Based on the transaction results, East Java [businesses] sell fish and shrimp feed, cigarettes, coffee, chilies, frozen chicken, duck, free-range chicken, batik products, fashion, and organic kitchen spices. In return, they purchased yellowfin tuna, tobacco, corn, fishery products, raw salted goat skins, shallot seeds, and live cattle [from West Nusa Tenggara]," Khofifah explained.

She elaborated that the key commodities supplied from West Nusa Tenggara include, among others, corn, tobacco, shrimp, fresh chilies and peppers, root and tuber vegetables, and ornamental fishes. Conversely, East Java supplies passenger cars, sweet pastries, animal feed, medicines, refined palm oil, soft drinks, and other commodities to West Nusa Tenggara.

"Hopefully, this trade mission will have a significant impact on cooperation in various economic and cultural fields between East Java and West Nusa Tenggara," said Khofifah.

She said that the East Java Province trade mission is an effort that facilitates a gathering of business actors from both provinces to disseminate the potential of industrial products, trade, fisheries, agribusiness, and other investment opportunities in an integrated manner to meet import substitution needs, which are expected to increase the value of domestic trade.

"This year's trade mission, and the collaboration it established, have increased trade volume and strengthened business networks.," Khofifah noted. "East Java is set to record Rp5.29 trillion balance of [accumulated] trade surplus with West Nusa Tenggara since 2023," he said.

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