The Overview of Indonesian Aquaculture Problems

Christopher Ongko
Agribusiness, Faculty of Green Economy and Digital Communication
Surya University
Tanggerang, Indonesia
e-mail: christopherchiang3254@gmail.com

In order to raise food security, Indonesia must increase the production in fisheries sector. On the other hand, Indonesian capture fisheries almost reach the limit of the sustainable fisheries measures. Given this situation, the solution is to increase the production of aquaculture. There are several elements that support aquaculture in Indonesia. First, Indonesia has a very vast areas to contribute in aquaculture, there are 38,7 million hectares of water area that include marine, brackish, and freshwater that are suitable to aquaculture with total production potency of 57,7 million tonnes (DKP, 2013). Second, given a tropical climate Indonesia has a megabiodiversity of aquatic organisms, which means Indonesia has a very wide selection of  products for aquaculture sector. Third, Indonesian fisheries have a great contribution towards global market demand.  Hence, fisheries contribute to main Indonesia  GDP.

Despite of all supporting elements, Indonesia has  several problematic issues in aquaculture that hamper the development in aquaculture industry. First,   the mindset of the people in Indonesia. Fisheries is considered as a unprestigious and low income business, therefore many scholar of fisheries faculty after graduated work in a non-fieheries related job and there is minimum  investors in fisheries business especially aquacuture. Secondly,  poor data availability , for example: brackishwater aquaculture in the northern coast of Java is not recommended   because of  mangrove ecosystem, yet in the 1980 until 1990 the establishment of  brackishwater pond increased drastically in Java. Thirdly, low  law enforcement in Indonesia Fisheries, this make the investor worried and give disadvantage to aquaculture practitioners. There is an example of KHS (koi harpes virus) case where government have been giving restriction in carp trading from contaminated area, but the preventive action is only on the paper and with least action the KHS is spreading everywhere. Lastly, it is low socialization of aquaculture technology and updates. There are some technology and research breakthrough by Indonesian scientist and fisheries expert but sadly, this is only circulated in certain community through seminar, symposium, conference, etc which are not attended by the aquaculture farmers. The business owner/investors are reluctant to give awareness for other farmers because of the strong competition in aquaculture business in Indonesia.

In order to handle the situation, there are several action need to be taken. Government should provide strong comitment to support the improvement aquaculture sector, for example: provide knowledgeable and more number of extension staff. Multiple stakeholders, especially investment institution should work together in supporting farmer with regards to invesment/capital. All sector should pay attention to sustainibillity in term of the business itself, informant, and social issue.