Indonesia the world’s largest fish producer in 2015: Minister

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post 9 Dec 09;

The government has increased measures to meet its target of catapulting the country to the top fish producer in the world in the coming six years.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said Wednesday, however, the achievement would require a change in the development program’s orientation from land to marine.

Fadel said Indonesia’s abundant fishery and maritime potential should be converted into huge foreign exchange reserves so the sector became the backbone of the country’s economy.

“We have projected that the country will emerge as the world’s biggest fish producer in 2015,” Fadel told a ceremony that marked the celebration of Nusantara (archipelago) Day in Makassar.

Fadel said the government expected the event to kick-start a new development strategy that relied on maritime resources.

“Fishermen and coastal-area residents have been part of the most impoverished and marginalized population despite maritime resource,” he said. “We want to change this.”

Also attending the ceremony was Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Agung Laksono and former fisheries minister Rokhmin Dahuri.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was scheduled to lead the celebration, but canceled due to another appointment.