Indonesian Eel Fishers in Cilacap Survive the COVID-19 Pandemic

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).

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