Fishing ships anchor at the Muara Baru port in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 29, 2022. Indonesia is estimated to face drops in fish supplies as 2.2 million fishers cannot go fishing because of rising fuel prices, an official said Thursday. (Xinhua/Veri Sanovri)
JAKARTA, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is estimated to face drops in fish supplies as 2.2 million fishers cannot go fishing because of rising fuel prices, an official said Thursday.
Muhammad Zaini, Director General for Capture Fisheries of the country's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said in a written statement that 50 percent of fishers across the country who owned fishing vessels of above 10 gross tonnage (GT) could not go fishing since the government increased the non-subsidized diesel price from 12,000 rupiahs (0.81 U.S. dollars) to almost 18,000 rupiahs.
"In eastern Indonesia, the price can even reach 24,000 rupiahs. We currently have around 200,000 unit vessels above 10 GT, with more than 2 million fishermen. The rising prices will not only cause drops in fish supplies, but also force the fishermen to be jobless," Zaini said.
Currently, he said, there were hundreds of fishing vessels parked and stranded in each port in Indonesia. This condition may disturb Indonesia's position as one of the world's largest fish exporters.
In 2021, Indonesia's fresh fish export volume reached 55,300 tons, according to data from the Central Statistics Agency. Its biggest market was Malaysia with 30,800 tons, followed by Singapore with 15,200 tons and China with 3,140 tons. (1 dollar equals 14,883 Indonesian Rupiahs) ■
People unload skipjack tuna from a ship at Muara Baru port in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 29, 2022. Indonesia is estimated to face drops in fish supplies as 2.2 million fishers cannot go fishing because of rising fuel prices, an official said Thursday. (Xinhua/Veri Sanovri)
People rest on a ship that anchored at Muara Baru port in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 29, 2022. Indonesia is estimated to face drops in fish supplies as 2.2 million fishers cannot go fishing because of rising fuel prices, an official said Thursday. (Xinhua/Veri Sanovri)
People unload skipjack tuna from a ship at Muara Baru port in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 29, 2022. Indonesia is estimated to face drops in fish supplies as 2.2 million fishers cannot go fishing because of rising fuel prices, an official said Thursday. (Xinhua/Veri Sanovri)
People rest on a ship that anchored at Muara Baru port in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 29, 2022. Indonesia is estimated to face drops in fish supplies as 2.2 million fishers cannot go fishing because of rising fuel prices, an official said Thursday. (Xinhua/Veri Sanovri)