TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is pursuing tuna seed cultivation to improve national economic added value and boost fishermen's welfare.

"Baby tunas are caught and then kept for some time, which, in turn, can generate added value for the economy and fulfill protein needs," Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said.

He delivered the statement on the sidelines of the National Tuna Conference and International Tuna Business Forum in Badung, Bali, on Wednesday.

Trenggono stressed that only small tunas will be caught under the cultivation program, not adult ones.

The baby tunas will be caught using fishnets, and afterward, they will be moved to a big cage, he informed.

The baby tunas will be kept captive till they are three to four months old, before being harvested eventually, he added.

He said he is confident that the method would help produce larger and better quality tuna.

"I have brought an expert from Turkey who successfully did it; the capture method, too, is different," he informed.

The tuna cultivation plan is part of the blue economy push and aimed at eradicating illegal tuna fishing, he said.

Four types of tuna are caught often—bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye, and albacore, Trenggono informed.

The minister then highlighted the potential for tuna seed cultivation in all parts of Indonesia, particularly in areas situated alongside bays.

Some bays in Indonesia with such potential include Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara and Morotai in North Maluku, Minister Trenggono said.

Indonesia is the largest contributor of tunas in the global market, with a share of 15 percent, he noted.

According to the ministry's data, national tuna production in 2021 reached 790 million tons and was valued at Rp22 trillion (US$1.47 billion). Tuna exports were recorded at 174.7 thousand tons worth US$732 million.

Indonesia exports tuna to the United States, Japan, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, Australia, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines.

ANTARA

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