Indonesian Ornamental Fish From Bettas, Koi To Comets Believed By Professors Of IPB Have The Opportunity To Dominate The International Market

Professor of the Department of Fisheries Socio-Economic IPB Professor (Prof) Iis Diatin. (ANTARA/HO/IPB)

BOGOR - Professor of the Department of Fisheries Socio-Economic IPB Iis Diatin revealed that ornamental fish cultivation in Indonesia has the opportunity to dominate the international market by increasing production and quality.

"One of the efforts to increase ornamental fish production is through the application of intensive fish farming technology," said Prof Iis in Bogor City, West Java, as reported by Antara, Monday, June 13.

Iis explained that currently around 6,000 species and more than 2 billion ornamental fish are traded in the international market. These ornamental fish are dominated by tropical freshwater ornamental fish production of 51.7 percent and around 55 percent of the global ornamental fish market is supplied from Asia.

Indonesia is known as a mega biodiversity country and dubbed the 'home for hundred of exotic ornamental fish' with as much as 70 percent of the diversity of ornamental fish found in Indonesia.

However, said Iis, Indonesia's ornamental fish production in 2020 only reached 76.22 percent of the target of 1.87 billion fish. Meanwhile, production in 2024 is targeted at 2.33 billion heads, so this is a challenge to be able to increase ornamental fish production according to the target.

The reason for not achieving this target is because most of the ornamental fish production is produced from small-scale aquaculture, which results in uncertainties in quality, quantity, variation, consistency and continuity of production.

According to him, one of the efforts to increase ornamental fish production is through the application of intensive fish farming technology. Intensification through increasing stocking density can increase production and profits by one to three times and is feasible to be developed in the long term in order to support sustainable aquaculture.

Apart from intensification, the increase in ornamental fish production can be done through the development of aquaculture areas in settling ponds in ex-mining areas.

"We have conducted research on the cultivation of koi fish, goldfish and comets in ex-mining depositional ponds. The three types of ornamental fish tested were all able to live in settling ponds," he explained.

Ornamental fish cultured in depositional ponds in ex-mining areas received the highest survival value in koi fish, so that the utilization of settling ponds in ex-mining areas is very prospective for ornamental fish production.

Furthermore, said Iis, in overcoming the problem of the low quality of ornamental fish, technology has been found to improve the quality of colors, patterns and patterns of ornamental fish.

The use of red light spectrum can increase the color of botia fish, white light for betta fish and blue light for clown fish. The addition of carotenoids in the feed, such as roselle extract can improve the color quality of goldfish, the addition of astaxanthin in the feed is effective in improving the color quality of botia fish and rainbow kurumoi fish.

The significant difference in color, pattern and shape of ornamental fish between males and females of the same species, causes the quality of males and females to differ.

Sex reversal is the technology of turning the genitals from female to male (masculinization) or vice versa.

In betta fish, the shape and color of male fish are more attractive and male fish also become fighting fish. The use of the hormone 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) can increase aggressiveness and masculinization in betta fish and rainbow fish.

Reversal sex technology using natural ingredients has begun to be found, such as honey, Javanese chili, and others.

Iis also conveyed strategic steps in the development of ornamental fish, namely increasing the quality and quantity of ornamental fish, strengthening technological innovations for ornamental fish cultivation, strengthening knowledge and skills of cultivators, logistical support and infrastructure for ornamental fish production and trade.

"Don't forget, an integrated database and information on ornamental fish, strengthening branding and marketing of Indonesian ornamental fish in the international market as well as government regulations that support the development of Indonesian ornamental fish," he said.