TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Fish exports are not affected by regulations issued by the Marine and Fishery Ministry. “Having seen the trend, the value of monthly groupers export from 2012 to 2016 showed positive trade performances,” Fishery Ministry official Slamet Soebjakto said yesterday in a written statement.
According to Slamet, the issuance of Fishery Ministry’s regulations earlier affected fish farming in several regions. However, normal service has resumed. On dropping grouper prices at farmers’ level and declining demand, he said that they are caused by market fluctuation at export destinations. “The condition is seasonal and normal.”
Data from the Central Statistics Agency show that in last five years Indonesia posted a positive grouper trade balance with an average of 9.4 percent per year. In 2016, the value of grouper export reached US$32.18 million. As of July 2017, it hit US$16.42 million. In addition, the volume of grouper exports in the same period increased at an average of 30.75 percent per year.
Earlier, Marine and Fishery Minister Susi Pudjiastuti has called for the opening of flight routes to Indonesia’s outer islands to facilitate fresh fish exports.
ALI NY | ANTARA