TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of National Development Planning or Bappenas, Suharso Monoarfa, proposed three regions to be named as the international fish market. They are Kota Tual in Maluku, Bagansiapiapi in Riau, and Likupang in North Sulawesi, which recorded the highest production of fisheries.

Suharso said the government needs to focus on developing a global-scale fish auction in a bid to optimize the national fisheries. Based on the ministry’s data, the archipelago must have contributed 8-11 percent to gross domestic product (GDP).

“Or equal to US$100-160 billion. The question is, how to achieve that figure? The most possible way is renovating fish auction sites,” said the minister during a national working meeting with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in Borobudur Hotel, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, December 4.

Suharso reiterated that the country’s production of fisheries was not yet optimum in boosting the national economic growth as there was no world-class fisheries market to date. While in fact, Indonesia is a maritime nation but is surrounded by countries with famous fish auction sites, such as in Fremantle, Australia, Thailand, and Japan.

The proposal on the development of fish markets in those regions had been discussed with Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry as well as the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, and Transportation Ministry.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA