"We are optimistic we could meet the target in view of the country`s great potentials in ornamental fish," the ministry`s expert staff for social, economic and cultural affairs said.
Suseno who is also a member of the Indonesia Ornamental Fish Board (DIHI) said the target would be met because 400 species of fresh water fish or 40 percent of 1,100 species in the world are found in the country.
Meanwhile, the number of sea water ornamental fish species totaling 650 or 30 percent of total species in the world only around 200 of them are traded.
"Botia fish (botia macracantha) meanwhile has become the prima dona of Indonesia`s ornamental export fish," he said.
He said the fish locally called "Bajubang" fish is only found in two places in the country namely the Batanghari river in Jambi, Sumatra, and Barito river in Kalimantan.
He said botia fish has also become one of Indonesia`s prime export commodities and a favorite species attracting a lot of fans from home and abroad.
To meet demand from various countries botia fish fingerling has been produced in the Fresh Water Ornamental Fish Culture Research Center in Depok, West Java, reaching up to 50,000 fish a month.
The price of the fish at international markets reaches US$1 dollar each.
In 2010 the country`s exports of botia fish reached US$5 billion in value with the total of fish of various species exported reaching 6.7 million.
"In view of that the target of three billion fish for exports in 2011 will continue to rise until 2014," he said.
He said he was optimistic Indonesia could meet the target and hoped the country could rise and become the biggest exporter of ornamental fish in the world in 2015.
Suseno said Indonesia is now recorded as the world`s third largest exporter of ornamental fish controlling 7.5 percent of the market, following Singapore and Malaysia respectively controlling 22.5 and 11 percent of the market.
Indonesia`s ornamental fish exports in 2010 reached 12 million rising from 10 million in the previous year.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
