Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) is implementing five programs in order to make captured fisheries as a contributor to the Indonesian fishery production and supply of food for the country.
Sjarief Widjaja, Director General of Captured Fisheries at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, said that captured fisheries contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) reached 3.14%, and is expected to rise to 6% this year.
Our position is still at around IDR255 trillion, we expect to increase it to almost IDR800 trillion to IDR900 trillion. Actual satellite GDP is at IDR600 trillion, we will push it up toIDR800 billion to IDR900 billion, Sjarief said on Saturday (3/11).
These programs consist of increasing fish production, improving scale of economy, GDP contribution hike, improving fishermen’s exchange value, and the establishment fishermen welfare community.
Sjarief added the directorate general will also carry out the refurbishment of 20 harbor as a potential business centers. The harbor improvements consist of enclosed and hygienic fish auction site, paving roads with asphalt, providing access to clean water, as well as procuring uniforms and boots for fishermen.
Later, the directorate general will add port facilities for procurement of maritime workshops, maritime stalls, packaging houses for fishery product branding, and transportation for fishermen from fishing villages to harbors. The maritime workshop will sell spare parts, and vessel needs.
The maritime stalls will sell basic necessities to fishermen such as rice, eggs, sugar, coffee and other food needs. Sjarief sayid that fishermen are allowed to borrow and pay for their purchases with fish.
Fishermen can take debts, and pay the debts with captured fish. Why? Because I want to cut the middleman track. We will set harbors as [business] centers, he added.
Rejuvenation will also be done by placing GPS on 10-GT vessels, procurement of 12,000 new VMS for vessels above 30 GT, as well as the installation of CCTV in every port.
Later all will be monitored in the office of directorate general of captured fish to see if there is a vessel or a committed violation. The directorate general also expects to open 11 new Regional Fisheries Management Offices.
I hope we can complete the programs in one year, as we have already distributed the budget funds, Sjarief said.
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