TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti expected West Papua to enter the international trade by exporting fish, especially which of catched by traditional fishermen. Susi said to had met PT Pelindo IV to discuss the matter.
Susi stated the plan will be implemented within one or two months ahead. "The company will bring a floating cold storage to buy fish from traditional fishermen, and directly export those fish," said Susi Pudjiastuti in a written statement received on Monday, March 19.
The minister explained the government will provide environmentally friendly tools such as nets to replace the illegal fishing equipment that was still used by traditional fishermen as to encourage the fishing production in West Papua.
"The tools will not only preserve the marine environment but can increase the catch, as well as fishermen welfare in West Papua", she said.
Susi Pudjiastuti recently eager to encouraging Indonesian entrepreneurs in the field of fisheries to take a challenge of the fish expansion into international trade.
In the largest exhibition of technology and marine products Seafood Expo North America (SENA) 2018 in Boston, United States, Susi expressed her optimism that Indonesia participation will support the business growth, including the export of domestic fishery.
"We hoped Indonesia will lead [the export] and become a sustainable fishing production. And hopefully, the exhibitors will get clients with outstanding sales contracts. Based on our pre-observation, the potential transaction of Indonesian fishery products was of US $180 million in the next three months," Susi Pudjiastuti stated.
DEWI NURITA | ANTARA
