RI Still Depends on Fish Imports

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesian still depends on fish imports as importing fish is still a main trend in the country's fishery food policy in 2012, a fishery coalition activist said.

"Up to the first quarter of this year the country has at least seven imported tuna commodities, regardless of the fact that tuna is  Indonesia's biggest sea potential," Abdul Halim, program coordinator of the People's Coalition for Fishery Justice (KIARA), said here on Tuesday.

Besides, the country's tuna potential has also become the target for exports, while at the same time Indonesia also continues to import other fishery potentials such as octopus, squid, and shrimp, he said.

He said that the  fishery import policy had negative implications on the trade policy and the effort to reinforce national fishery resilience.

"Exports are accelerated but imports also increase drastically. Ironically, fish imports are dominated by fresh fish to meet the domestic need for production and consumption," Abdul Halim said.(IGT)