REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The rate of fish consumption in the country should continue to grow rapidly, as a report recently indicated an increase in the national fish consumption, Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Susi Pudjiastuti stated.

"The government's target this year is to reach a per capita fish consumption of 46 kilograms, and we hope that the number would reach 50 kilograms by the end of 2019," Minister Pudjiastuti noted in Jakarta, Friday.

The minister believed that the increase in the rate of fish consumption in the last few years is an extraordinary feat since the imports of fish products had gone down, while the exports had risen slightly.

Based on data released by the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, the highest consumption was recorded in the Maluku area, while the Java island area continued to remain the lowest.

Minister Pudjiastuti earlier also highlighted the rate of fish consumption, which is still considerably low, due to which the government, through her ministry, had continued to promote it.

"If we see the statistics, as compared to the other countries, for instance Japan, its fish consumption has reached 86 kilograms per year, whilst Indonesia had only recorded above 40 kilograms per year in 2016, while in 2014, Indonesia's consumption was recorded at merely 36 kilograms per year, which rose to 41 kilograms in 2015," she revealed.

Minister Pudjiastuti pointed to an increase in the national fish stock, as the measures to combat illegal fishing had contributed seven additional kilograms to the country's consumption rate in the past two years.

"If we do the calculation, the seven extra kilograms, times the total of 250 million citizens in Indonesia, equals to 1,750 tons of fish consumed by the people of the nation. If each kilogram is priced at Rp10 thousand, then it totals up to Rp175 trillion. That is an extraordinary value for the economy that we have benefited from," she explained.

The minister also encouraged the people of Indonesia to develop a greater liking for fish, as it contributes to good health and nourishment as well as intellectual growth, which will be necessary in the face of the ASEAN Economic Community and the ever-increasing competition between countries.

She emphasized that Indonesian children, especially those aged between one and 10, need to have adequate intake of protein in order to maintain good physical and intellectual growth, and this can all be fulfilled by simply consuming fish.

Apart from maintaining good health of the community, the minister believed that regular consumption of fish will also have an impact on the country's economic state, as fish is considerably cheaper than red meat.

"The movement to raise awareness on fish consumption will also offer benefits to the fishery industry players. Fish from Indonesia can be exported, and this can contribute to the country's foreign exchange earnings," she said.

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