REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Minister of maritime affairs and fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti has urged Indonesians to eat more fish to boost the growth and competitiveness of the country's younger generation.

Minister Pudjiastuti stated during a bazaar here on Sunday that the national fish consumption was still low compared to Japan despite being a country rich in fishery resources.

The annual consumption of fish and fishery products in Indonesia is around 40kg per capita, compared to Japan's 80kg per year.

"I wish Indonesians would like to eat more fish," Minister Pudjiastuti said.

Moreover, fishery products are healthier and less expensive than red meat whose price has been soaring these days, the minister said.

Consuming fish provides benefits such as increasing protein intake and overcoming growth problems in Indonesian children, she said.

In an effort to increase the country's fish production, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is focusing on the development of micro, small and medium enterprises in fishery products.

The government have been providing business management instructors to help the SMEs develop their business.

The ministry is also focusing on the development of minapolitan areas (fishery development cities) in several regions in Indonesia.

Data from the ministry revealed that the national fishery products in 2015 was 23.99 million tons, increasing from the previous year's 20.40 million tons.

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