Riau Islands Province Should Be Fish Producers

foto : www.diskan.tanjabbarkab.go.id

As an archipelago, Riau Islands Province with larger sea than land was supposed to be a fish-producing areas, rather than relying on fish import or brought from other regions in Indonesia.

Supply of fish from fishermen in Riau Islands Province is still not able to meet the needs of residents in seven regencies and cities, namely Batam, Tanjungpinang, Bintan, Karimun, Lingga, Anambas and Natuna.

One barometer of the needs of fish in the Riau Islands of Batam. Site kepri.antaranews.com reported the need of fish in Batam reached 56 thousand tons per year. However, the supply of fish from the fishermen only about 15,642 tons per year.

Department of Fisheries and Marine Batam said supply of fish from local fishermen is only about 18 percent, still far from expected. In fact, the Riau Islands have a much wider sea than land.

Natuna, Lingga and Anambas waters region producing fish, but have not been able to meet the needs of the Riau Islands because of illegal fishing.

The low ability of fishing gear is also one of the causes of marine fish production is still small. As a result, the price of fish in the market is still very expensive because it was imported from other regions, even imported from other countries.

In Tanjung Balai Karimun, mackerel fish prices have already reached Rp35.000 per kilogram, if the bad weather at sea, it will soar because the fishermen to stop fishing.

Tuna is also quite expensive, especially fresh. So also with squid and fish export quality.

Communities are generally consume fish at cheap prices because it can not afford to buy high-quality fish.

Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Fadel Muhammad during a visit to Batam some time ago said Riau Islands, one of the areas sought to be fish-producing areas.

As a maritime country which consists of islands, very strange if Indonesia had to import fish from other countries.

To that end, the government vowed to increase domestic fish production and reduce dependence on fish imports.

Riau Islands society hopes that government policy actually be implemented with the seriousness that is self-sufficient fish for Indonesia as a maritime country materialized. (kepri online daily)