Tual, Maluku (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the government would soon bring to reality its promise to provide 1,000 fishing boats in aid for fishermen.

"Hopefully this year," Jusuf Kalla said here on Thursday after hearing complaints from owners of fish processing factories about shortage in fresh fish supply in Ambon and Banda Neira, Maluku Province.

The factory owners said the number of fishermen remained unchanged, while but the number of fish processing factories increased.

Currently there are five fish processing plants in the port of Ambon, increasing from only one. The first unit, PT Harta Samudra, was built four years earlier.

Meanwhile two fish processing plants in Banda Neira had stopped operation on shortage in supply of fresh fishes and power supply.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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