The Government Boosts Exports of Fisheries Products in Papua

The Government Boosts Exports of Fisheries Products in Papua

The Mimika Regency Maritime and Fishery Center (SKPT) at the Fish Landing Port (PPI) Paumako, Papua has successfully exported crabs to a number of countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore. In December 2019, the SKPT, which was built in 2016, exported 476 crabs to Singapore with a value of Rp 133 million and 120 to Malaysia with a value of Rp 33 million.
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"In early January 2020, SKPT Mimika exported 1,380 live crabs to Malaysia with a value of Rp. 386 million," said Director General of Maritime and Fisheries Product Competitiveness (PDSPKP) KKP Agus Suherman.
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According to Agus, the Mimika SKPT has had a positive impact and has a multiplier effect for economic activities around the port. "The Mimika SKPT has also become an attraction for large fishing vessels to stop and carry out loading and unloading of fishery products," he said.
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Fish production in 2016-2019 at the Mimika SKPT also showed a significant increase. The volume of production at the Mimika SKPT in 2016 was only 4,907 tons, in 2018 rising to 20,587 tons. "Last year, until November alone, production had reached 23,999 tons," he said.
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Agus explained, KKP has provided fishing vessels and their fishing gears, cool boxes and processing facilities to SKPT Mimika. Other assistance include chest freezers, ice flake machines, frozen warehouses of 100 and 200 tons capacity, refrigerated vehicles, crane cars, and small boat mooring facilities.
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"From the reports and results of direct observations, the assistance we have provided has been optimally utilized at SKPT," he explained. The assistance, said Agus, was able to encourage an increase in the average income of recipients of Rp. 2 million per month.
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Initially in the shrimp season, fishermen only receive income of Rp 2.5 million to Rp 3 million. After using the assistance of ships and fishing equipment, fishermen income increased to Rp. 4.5 million to Rp. 5 million.
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Agus Suherman added, the use of aid by fishermen, such as boats and fishing gear, was able to increase the catch volume by 14.04 tons in December 2018 to August 2019.
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At present, according to Agus Suherman, there are three business operators that collect fishermen's catches, namely the Mbiti Fisheries Cooperative, UD Arafura, and the fishery BUMN, PT Perikanan Nusantara (Persero).