"We must produce fish meal to benefit the sector but we must seek ways to utilize rich local materials for this purpose," KKPs Director General for Cultured Fish, Slamet Soebjakto, said here on Tuesday.
He said Indonesia has exceptionally rich natural wealth and fish experts recognized the country as one that is abundant in fish meal raw materials.
By utilizing local raw materials, not only will the producers benefit but the fish breeders in various regions would also become independent. "The trend now is that fish meal production will no longer depend on fish powder in the future," he added.
The Director General said the raw materials in various regions had varying potential, and this aspect should be studied further.
He hoped that production of fish meals in the regions would receive support and assistance from local governments.
Moreover, the use of imported raw materials should be reduced.
Slamet said fish meal production facility should be accorded priority because meals account for the biggest cost component in the fish culture sector.
"Meals account for the biggest chunk of the cost in fish, often reaching some 70 to 80 percent (of the total cost)," the KKP senior official explained.
Earlier, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti expressed the desire that the cost of fish cultivation should be reduced to 60 percent.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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