ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) views the implementation of the blue economy program in managing the marine and fisheries sector in Indonesia as appropriate for the interests of ecology, food security and the country’s future economic growth.
According to the Head of FAO for Indonesia and Timor Leste, Rajendra Aryal, the blue economy program can make Indonesia a developed archipelagic country in the future, although its implementation will face many challenges because this concept is still relatively new in society.
Nevertheless, FAO is ready to support Indonesia, including through existing programs, namely the Indonesia Seas Large Marine Ecosystem (ISLME) and IFish.
“There are several collaborations that have been carried out with Indonesia in the field of capture fisheries and land cultivation. Several good practices have also been carried out well,” said Rajendra when speaking at the 2024 Indonesia Marine and Fisheries Business Forum (IMFBF) held by the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in Jakarta, Monday, February 5 2024.
The blue economy program for Indonesia’s marine and fisheries sector is contained in five major agendas. This program is to ensure that the use of fishery resources is carried out responsibly so that the sustainability of the ecosystem within it is maintained.
The five blue economy programs initiated by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries include expanding marine conservation areas, implementing measurable fishing policies, developing sustainable fisheries cultivation on land, coasts and seas, controlling and supervising the use of coasts and small islands, and handling plastic waste. at sea.
ID Food Business Development and Control Director Dirgayuza Setiawan, who is also a panelist at IMFBF 2024, said the important role of sustainable marine and fisheries governance in the downstream development of the sector.
Downstreaming is a strategic step to increase the added value of the products produced and as part of efforts to maintain food security.
His party is currently encouraging the downstreaming and digitalization of marketing of marine and fisheries products. He admitted that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries’ steps to determine five main commodities for marine and fishery products (shrimp, lobster, crab, seaweed and tilapia) were also the key to successful downstreaming.
“In downstream efforts, it is necessary to focus on developing superior commodities, and this is done both at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and at ID Food. If the Ministry has five commodities, at ID Food it is for eight fisheries commodities,” said Dirgayuza.
The large marine and fisheries potential, accompanied by the certainty of sustainable governance, is also considered to be a major attraction for investors to invest.
President Director of Indonesia Evergreen Group Tina Maria believes that Indonesia can even become a big player in the maritime and fisheries sector on the global stage.
“Indonesia has many marine and fisheries resources which are utilized optimally. Indonesia is one of the largest seafood producing countries in the world,” he said.
The implementation of the blue economy program in Indonesia will be accompanied by strengthening technological infrastructure. These include satellite technology, the use of marine drones, and technology in the field of fisheries cultivation.
The role of technology is to strengthen the monitoring system for illegal unreported unregulated fishing (IUUF) practices, data processing, and monitoring the condition of aquatic ecosystems. Apart from that, technology is used to help increase quality fisheries production.
Chairman of Rynan Technologies Vietnam Joint Stock Company MY.T. Nguyen acknowledged the important role of technology in increasing fisheries productivity. This is one of the keys to Vietnam’s success in becoming an important player in the global fisheries market.
“I hope that Indonesia will continue the transformation of its marine and fisheries sectors and industry. One thing that needs to continue to be encouraged is efforts to find alternative sources for feed,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Director of the Planning Division of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Theerawat Samphawamana talked about the important role of the Mekong River and its sustainable management by countries that have used the river.
This river, which crosses China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, is a source of livelihood for the community and an economic driver and maintains the community’s food security. One of the fisheries activities in this river is cultivating freshwater fish.
“We are developing guidelines as instruments and guidelines for the use and all economic activities on the Mekong River,” he said.
For information, IMFBF 2024 was held by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to promote sustainable management of the marine and fisheries sector through five blue economy programs. This management brings significant investment opportunities to encourage more advanced development of Indonesia’s marine and fisheries sector.
IMFBF 2024 was attended by hundreds of participants from various groups from within and outside the country. Such as ambassadors, international and local organizations, academics, and business people from various regions in Indonesia.
Advantages of Investing in 5 Priority Commodities
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries outlined the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) of Indonesia’s five priority commodities. The five commodities are shrimp, seaweed, tilapia, crabs and lobsters.
“RCA is an indicator that can show the comparative advantage of a commodity or the competitiveness of a country’s products in the global market,” explained the Director General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Indonesian Marine and Fisheries Products, Budi Sulistiyo on the sidelines of the 2024 Indonesia Marine and Fisheries Business Forum (IMFBF).
Budi explained that RCA for processed shrimp, for example, has a score of 1.01 in the Chinese market and 3.49 for the Japanese market. Then seaweed has a carrageenan RCA score of 6.25 for the European Union market and tilapia has a frozen fillet RCA score of 12.89 for the Canadian market.
“This is the result of our analysis, a score of more than 1 indicates that our product has competitiveness in that market, especially if the market share growth is positive, then the country is an optimistic market and has the potential to continue to be developed,” explained Budi.
Therefore, Budi predicts the global shrimp market value will be $61.90 billion in 2045. Then seaweed could reach $11.14 billion, tilapia $1.94 million, crabs $16.93 billion and lobsters $11.30 billion in 2045.
“Of course this is a big value and Indonesia has the opportunity to become one of the main players in 2045,” said Budi. (AT Network)
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