July 17, 2023

 

 

The Indonesian government has unveiled plans to establish a network of aquaculture villages by the end of the year, aiming to stimulate the post-pandemic economic recovery by meeting the global demand for farmed seafood, Mongabay reported.

 

According to Indonesia's fisheries ministry, six aquaculture villages have already been established, with an additional 130 villages set to be added by the end of 2022. These villages will focus on cultivating high-value aquaculture commodities, including shrimp, lobster, crab, and seaweed.

 

TB Haeru Rahayu, the director-general of aquaculture fisheries at the ministry, highlighted the priority of boosting production for exports, adding that the programme will enhance food security and generate new employment opportunities.

 

Indonesian President Joko Widodo had directed the fisheries ministry to increase Indonesia's aquaculture productivity at the beginning of his second term in office in 2019. Indonesia is already among the top global producers in aquaculture, with a growth rate of 527% from 1990 to 2018. In the third quarter of 2021, the country's aquaculture output reached 12.25 million metric tonnes, marking a 6% increase compared to the same period in 2020. The sector also contributed US$1.94 million in non-tax state revenue by November 2021, surpassing the target figure of US$1.39 million.

 

While Indonesia is a major exporter of frozen seawater shrimps, it lags behind its neighbouring countries in the export of freshwater shrimp and fresh, salted, or smoked shrimp. Key export species include Asian tiger shrimp and whiteleg shrimp,

 

Experts have praised the government's efforts to boost the aquaculture sector but said there is a need for sustainable environmental planning, particularly regarding land clearing and waste management for the farms.

 

Clearing carbon-rich mangrove forests to construct shrimp and fish ponds has been a common practice in aquaculture development in Indonesia. But this has resulted in the loss of nearly half of the country's mangrove area over the past three decades, as reported by the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). In response, President Widodo set a target of replanting mangroves on 600,000 hectares of degraded coastline by 2024.

 

Abdul Halim, executive director of the Centre for Maritime Studies for Humanity, said it is important to address waste management issues associated with aquaculture farms, which often discharge waste into the sea or lakes.

 

The planning ministry identified 15 lakes in "critical" condition due to environmental degradation caused by human activities such as pollution, logging, and destructive fishing practices. Mass fish die-offs have been frequently reported in some of these lakes.

 

Abdi Suhufan, national coordinator of the NGO Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW) Indonesia, called for fundamental changes in the aquaculture sector, including the development of detailed farm maps, clearly defined land status, and effective water management.

 

-      Mongabay