TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An eel fishers cooperative in Cilacap has still been able to survive throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and build back better even though the eel fisheries have been hit hard during the trying time. The main market for eel (Anguilla sp.) — also known as unagi — is Japan, while domestic demand is very limited. Due to COVID-19, Indonesia exports to Japan have been hampered and the demand for eel has decreased drastically. Large and small eel business throughout Indonesia suffered; glass eel became almost worthless, adult eels did not get good price in the market, as stated by FAO in the press release received by Tempo Friday, Dec. 24.

“The first five months of COVID-19 were the most difficult times for our cooperative, and there were no orders at all. We could not send eels to Japan, and many restaurants and hotels in Indonesia were also closed. A number of assets had to be sold,” said Ruddy Sutomo, the pioneer of Mina Sidat Bersatu cooperative in Kaliwungu village, Cilacap district.

Ruddy and other cooperative members had to make various adjustments to survive without compromising the quality of the eels they cultivated. The hard work and the strong commitment to focus on quality products paid off once COVID-19 restrictions were gradually relaxed. Upscale Japanese restaurants and buyers from Japan have started ordering eels again regularly.

“We are having hard time to fulfil their request since we don’t have the capacity yet to fulfil their demands,“ said Ruddy. In contrast to other eel businesses that are still struggling to build their business back, the Mina Sidat Bersatu cooperative has even expanded its business from only supplying live eels to now processed ready-to-eat eels that have been certified by food and drug monitoring agency (BPOM) and halal by Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

The story of resilient Cilacap fishers was highlighted during the field visit of ad Interim Head of the Research and Human Resources Agency of the MMAF Mr Kusdiantoro, ad Interim Director General of Marine Spatial Management of the MMAF, Ms Pamuji Lestari, and FAO Representative Mr Rajendra Aryal, on Thursday, 23 December 2021.

Member of Mina Sidat Bersatu cooperative gave tour to FAO and MMAF in their seedling ponds © FAO / Des Syafrizal

The high-level officials went to Mina Sidat Bersatu Cooperative eel farms in Kaliwungu Eel Village in Cilacap District. The cooperative is one of the beneficiaries of Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and FAO IFish project, which is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

"Eel is a leading commodity from Cilacap Regency that needs to be continuously developed," said the Head of Cilacap District (Bupati), Mr Tatto Suwarto Pamuji. He mentioned that many researchers and aquaculture practitioners from Japan and other places came to Cilacap to study eels, especially to observe their life cycle and the best fisheries practices.

One of prime locations for learning is Kaliwungu Eel Village, the location of Mina Sidat Bersatu cooperative. It is the first demonstration site of the FAO-IFish project started in 2020.

"Eel cultivation needs to be carried out in harmony, balancing conservation and production based on technology and science," explained Kusdiantoro. "We appreciate the ability of the cultivators in the Kaliwungu Eel Village to independently concoct their eel feed. In the future, eel experts from the Center for Fisheries Research will also provide assistance to the fishers in Cilacap, as we have done with the FAO-IFish project in Sukabumi District already”, added Kusdiantoro.

The harmony between production and eel conservation efforts was also highlighted by Pamuji Lestari. “Eel is one of the commodities whose seeds rely solely on nature stocks. For the cultivation business to continue, conservation values need to be considered. I extend my biggest appreciation to the Regent of Cilacap that has issued a district regulation to set aside 2.5% of cultivated produce to be released back into the nature as a conservation measure”, said Lestari.

Mina Sidat Bersatu cooperative members Ibu Turini and Pak Herman with their freshly grilled Unagi © FAO / Des Syafrizal

Observation of the restocking activity was part of the joint visit to the Kaliwungu Eel Village. Prior to restocking, the eels are tagged for future observations. The provision of eels to be released into the nature is part of the cooperative's commitment to preservation of eels.

Rajendra Aryal expressed his high appreciation for stakeholders’ efforts in sustainable eel fishing activities in Kaliwungu Eel Village.

"Special appreciation to Mina Sidat Bersatu cooperative, a small-scale aquaculture business that is able to develop and sustain the business amid pandemic and produce high-quality eel. The ability of Mina Sidat Bersatu cooperative in formulating specific eel feeds, as well as increasing the survival rate of eels in a critical phase also needs to be a lesson for all of us. Let's take the momentum of the G20 presidency to show the world about sustainable fisheries in Indonesia”, Aryal said.

FAO's strategic framework supports the 2030 Agenda through transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life for all. Support to small-scale eel fisheries in Kaliwungu Eel Village is a prime example of FAO's strategic framework implementation within the framework of Indonesia’s medium-term development plan.

FAO | LA