Java Island Is A Area With Low Number Of Fish Consumption, This Is Proof

National Fish Day press conference 2025: Fish Protein for the 2045 Golden Generation in Jakarta, Wednesday, November 19. (Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) said that Java Island is an area with a relatively low number of people's fish consumption.

Acting (Plt) Director General of Fisheries Strengthening Competitiveness for Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP) KKP Machmud said this was based on a number of studies that had been carried out.

He said the research had been carried out in five cities of Java Island, three of which were Jakarta, Bandung and Solo.

"So, there is research on fish consumption in Java, yes. Indeed, our concentration is that 60 percent of the consumption (of fish) products are still low in Java," said Machmud at the 2025 National Fish Day press conference: Fish Protein for the 2045 Golden Generation in Jakarta, Wednesday, November 19.

"That's the research why fish consumption in Java Island, especially there is Jakarta, Bandung, Solo, if I'm not mistaken, consumption is a bit low," he continued.

Based on the results of the study, said Machmud, there are at least two reasons why the number of fish consumption is still low on the island of Java, namely eating complicated fish and looking for fresh fish is difficult.

"The first (cause) is eating fish is complicated, he said, the second is looking for fresh fish is difficult," he said.

According to Machmud, the younger generation today does not like eating fish without diversification of products and innovations, especially among Gen Z.

"If we look at eating complicated fish, yes, because of its position if fish are not diversified and innovations for processed fishery products are now young people, Gen Z, they generally don't want to eat like grilled fish, then there are still bones and all kinds of things. It's a bit difficult," he explained.

"It turns out that there are innovations that we have to do, such as making fillets, then giving flour. Well, there are children happy now and it turns out that not only children, adults are now starting like that," he added.

Sementara terkait mencari ikan segar susah, Machmud tak menampik hal tersebut.

Pasalnya, dibutuhkan proses panjang agar ikan dari laut bisa sampai ke tangan masyarakat.

Dalam hal inilah, mutu dari ikan itu sulit untuk dijaga.

"Terus yang kedua ikan segar susah katanya. Terlihat mungkin memang (karena) kami ini posisinya sisi (menjaga kualitasnya) belum begitu bagus, ya. Jadi, kalau ikan dari laut sampai ke gunung 'wah' sudah sulit itu untuk menjaga mutunya," pungkas dia.

While it is difficult to find fresh fish, Machmud does not deny this.

The reason is, it takes a long process so that fish from the sea can reach the community.

In this case, the quality of the fish is difficult to maintain.

"Then the two fresh fish are difficult to say. It looks maybe (because) we are in a side position (preserving the quality) not so good, yes. So, if fish from the sea to Mount 'wah' it is already difficult to maintain quality," he concluded.