Earlier, it was also mentioned that the consumption rate of fish is fresh fish, Mr. Dean, meaning that what is consumed is even lower because we don't eat the scales and other thingsBogor, West Java (ANTARA) - The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is encouraging people to consume more local fish, citing its many advantages as a national source of animal protein, through various outreach activities.
"One of them, through the FINA (National Fish Festival) 2022 activity, we hope that this will become a momentum that will ignite our spirit to pursue the initiative to eat fish as a source of animal protein," director general of competitiveness improvement of marine and fishery products at the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, Artati Widiarti, said at the festival held at Botani Square Bogor on Friday.
Presidential Decree Number 3 of 2014 about National Fish Day is expected to support the campaign to promote fish consumption through various activities because it is only right for fish to become the national source of animal protein, she added.
The FINA 2022 campaign has highlighted the message that fish can be consumed in other forms and has showcased several processed fish products, which are not only appealing, but also have nutritional content.
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Based on a presentation made by the Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK) at the Bogor Agricultural Institute, Prof. Fredinan Yulianda, geographically, Indonesia's territory comprises 70 percent water, the same as earth's surface in general, two-thirds of which is covered in water, she said.
Thus, it is appropriate for fish to be served as a national source of animal protein. According to the ministry's data, in 2021, Indonesian people's fish consumption reached 56 kg per capita per year.
“Earlier, it was also mentioned that the consumption rate of fish is fresh fish, Mr. Dean, meaning that what is consumed is even lower because we don't eat the scales and other things," Widiarti said.
Since the figure is still very low, there need to be collective efforts to promote the consumption of local fish, she added. This would impact economic improvement and also social welfare.
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The FINA 2022 activity is expected to also educate the public about consuming fish, she said. In addition, public interest is supported by good stocks.
Widiarti also commended the collaboration with the Bogor Agriculture Institute for research on eating fish and ways to process it into other stuff so that the demand to eat fish is supported by availability and affordable prices.
"Fish can improve the intelligence of citizens. Its availability is also abundant with many benefits that are not inferior to foreign fish species," she added.
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Translator: Linna Susanti, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
