December 8, 2010

Indonesia targets up to 75% shrimp output rise

The marine and fishery affairs ministry of Indonesia has set a target of raising the country's shrimp output in the 2010-2014 period by 74-75%, or from 400,000 tonnes to 699,000 tonnes.

"Shrimp aquaculture business opportunities are still wide open in Indonesia and there are also great land and aquaculture technology potentials among the public," Marine and Fishery Affairs Minister Fadel Muhammad said Monday (Dec 6).

The targeted 699,000 tonnes would consist of 500,000 tonnes of vannamei shrimp and 199,000 tonnes of tiger shrimp.

To achieve the target, the ministry estimated that the country would need 43.22 million tonnes of shrimp fry.

Indonesia has 1.2 million hectares of potential pond areas, and 613,000 hectares of them are being exploited, according to the minister.

Minister Fadel said Indonesia would strive for self-sufficiency in mother shrimp supply by developing a number of prime shrimp and scallop production centers, including the one to be inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Bugbug village, Karangasem District, Bali Province, Monday (Dec 6).

The shrimp and scallop production centre has a production capacity of 675,000 shrimps annually and is run under the auspices of the marine and fishery affairs ministry.

The minister said shrimp remains Indonesia`s main aquaculture export commodity besides seaweed and tuna.

In 2009, Indonesia's shrimp exports reached 240,250 tonnes or 27.29% from its total aquaculture exports amounting to 881,413 tonnes worth US$1.576 billion or 63.3% from the total value of its aquaculture fish exports worth US$2.466 billion.