Pelindo III to Construct Fishery Hub in Tegal

TEMPO.CO, Surabaya – State-run port operator Pelabuhan Indonesia III (Pelindo III) plans to construct a fishery industry hub in Tegal, Central Java.

“Our team has finished its research and study at Nizam Zachman Port, Jakarta; Benoa Port, Bali; and Samudra Bitung Port,” said Pelindo III president director Djarwo Surjanto said in a release Tempo received on Monday, March 30, 2015.

Djarwo said the hub would occupy a 25-hectare land plot and come equipped with multiple facilities, including a seven-meter LWS (low water spring) port, cold storage units, waste management system and a fish auction center.

He added Pelindo III would present this concept to State-owned to the State-owned Enterprises Minister, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, and the Transportation Minister in April.

“We will also team up with the Tegal administration in the construction,” Djarwo said.

Pelindo III public relations chief Edi Priyanto, meanwhile, said the hub’s location was adjacent to Tegal Port, which was under the company’s supervision.

“Actually, Tegalsari Fishery Port is located there, but fishermen prefer Tegal Port,” he said. “That’s why we construct the hub in the vicinity of Tegal Port.”

Edi said the hub’s planned construction was also backed by data showing that the sea fishery industry had become Tegal’s mainstay sector. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), sea fishery production value in 2013 saw Rp233.156 billion, with fish production hitting 23 thousand tons.

“There are some 12,000 fishermen with boats approximately 1,000 units, and around82 small-medium fishery enterprises near Tegal Port,” he said. 

EDWIN FAJERIAL