Minister: Many Marine Aquaculture Areas Remain Untapped
8 May 2014 17:22 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo, said that Indonesia has around 4.58 million square meters of potential marine aquaculture area. However, only two percent of the abovementioned areas have been utilized.
"These areas are [like] unexcavated gold mining areas," said Sharif on Thursday, May 8, 2014. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries had intensely develop marine aquaculture because of the high economic values of its commodities. "Demands for aquaculture commodities tend to increase every year," he said.
West Nusa Tenggara province is one of many regions that has high potential for aquaculture development with a total of 2,642 hectares of potential areas.
According to Sharif, marine aquaculture needs to be introduced to investors under a concept of sustainabile marine industry. This will encourage economic growth and proivde support for community development in coastal areas and small islands. "The role of the government, especially regional government, is indispensable to provide access for investment in this sector," he said.
PINGIT ARIA