Through This Program, KKP Is Optimistic That Indonesia Is The Largest Ornamental Fish Exporter In The World

Director General of Strengthening Competitiveness for Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP) Budi Sulistiyo. Photo: Doc. KKP Public Relations

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) said that the blue economy program can encourage the development of ornamental fish businesses and their derivatives. The KKP is also optimistic that the program can make Indonesia the largest exporter of ornamental fish in the world.

Director General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP) Budi Sulistiyo said that the blue economy program is considered to be able to improve the health of the marine environment and public waters which are important prerequisites for healthy ornamental fish cultivation.

"With the ongoing ecological improvement, it will have a positive impact on the quality of ornamental fish that will be cultivated," said Director General Budi in his official statement, Tuesday, September 5.

Budi also invited the public to continue to protect the environment to protect the fish ecosystem in line with the spirit of the blue economy. Moreover, the quality of water is very decisive in the breeding of ornamental fish.

The simple thing that can be done is through limiting the use of single-use plastic. "Plastics are difficult to decompose, if wasted into rivers or seas it will be a threat to the lives of fish in them," he said.

Regarding the business opportunity to cultivate ornamental fish, Budi explained that currently cultivating ornamental fish is one of the most potential economic opportunities for development by the community.

"This ornamental fish from hobbies can produce an economy. I see, there is an excellent collaboration between industry and MSMEs in an effort to increase the economic value of these ornamental fish, not only to meet the domestic market, but also to the export market," he said.

He also explained data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) which was processed by the Directorate General of PDSPKP showed an increase in ornamental fish exports in the last three years. In 2020, for example, the export value of Indonesian ornamental fish reached USD 30.76 million US dollars or equivalent to IDR 447.78 billion and became USD 34.55 million US dollars or IDR 494.47 billion in 2021.

This figure then increased again to USD 36.43 million US dollars or reached IDR 542.91 billion in 2022.

The increase in exports of Indonesian ornamental fish has made Indonesia the country in the second rank of global ornamental fish exporters. As for the previous year, Indonesia was in fifth position.

According to ITC Trademap data processed by the Directorate General of PDSPKP, Indonesia's market share in the global ornamental fish market will reach 11.35 percent or an increase from the market share the previous year which only reached 8.70 percent.

This shows that the blue economy policy promoted by the KKP has encouraged Indonesia to become the largest exporter of ornamental fish in the world, which is currently still held by Japan with a value of 48.95 million US dollars.

"This is our opportunity because policies support, as well as the potential and market exist, as can be seen from the increasing numbers," added Budi.

In addition, Budi emphasized that the KKP has issued a Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 2 of 2021 which stipulates the Arowana Super Red fish or Scleropages formmosus as the national ornamental fish mascot.

"Actually, there are many types of Indonesian native pets, and for KKP ornamental fish, they have made super red arowana fish the national ornamental fish mascot," he said.

Previously, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono asked startups to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), so that more and more people were able to compete in the global market. He is optimistic that the freshwater ornamental fish business and its derivatives will trigger the economic growth of MSMEs in the future.