Fish consumption grew slowly as many people still had a poor knowledge about the benefit of consuming fish for health, Director General of Fishery Product Processing and Marketing Victor Nikijuluw said here on Thursday.
"Cultural dimension and poor knowledge on the part of some people to consume fish remain a hindrance," he said.
Compared to 2009, per capita fish consumption in 2010 grew slightly by 4.5 percent or 1.5 kg from 29.9 kg to 30.4 kg, or lower than the expected food pattern of 31.40 kg, he said.
He said fish consumption in Java was far lower than in Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua.
"Fish consumption depends on supplies. Fish consumption in Java is low due to a lack of supplies so we must increase fish supplies to Java by shipping fish from Sulawesi and Kalimantan," he said.
Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) show the national fish production has reached 10.65 million tons since early this year, while annual fish production grew by an average of 10.02 percent from 2005 to 2009.
Given the large potentials of fish production per capita fish consumption could actually be increased, he said.
There should be a government policy to ensure adequate fish supplies and encourage consumers to buy fish, he said.
(Uu.S012/H-NG/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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