Fishing Industry Under Pressure – What is the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the fisheries sector today? There are three important things that happened, namely a decrease in global demand for Indonesian fisheries commodities, a decrease in the potential for supervision and an increase in the potential for illegal fishing, and a decrease in the capacity of the fish processing industry and employment in the fisheries sector.

First, until the end of last year, fishery production, including shrimp, lobster, and fish, was quite good. Even now we are entering a transition or transition from the fishing season to the peak of production, which usually starts in May. However, outbreaks make the potential of many fish stocks untapped, which is followed by a decrease in export market absorption. When compared with 2019, exports are estimated to decrease by 19.32 percent this year. As for the same month last year there was a decrease of 40.12 percent.

The average performance of live fish exports in 2020 from January to mid-April declined 47.4 percent. The growth performance of dead fish exports was 1.05 percent and in April it dropped 5.36 percent. This decrease, in addition to falling demand, is due to a decrease in the frequency of shipments. For live fish, the average shipment decline was 36.7 percent and dead fish decreased 10.24 percent.

Fishing Industry Under Pressure

Second, the decline in the ability to catch fish by small and large scale fishermen. Based on 2000-2016 statistical data that was updated in January 2019, there was a deconstruction of fishing vessels. Although there was a reported increase in fishermen productivity by 9 percent, it was not measurable that fishermen experienced an increase in income. Based on my research on fishermen on the north coast of Java and the Sunda Strait, the average income of ship fishermen is still below the regional minimum wage or the provincial minimum wage from the revenue sharing system.

Although the potential stock of 12.5 million tons is a mainstay to encourage fishing, it has not been able to push the fisheries business capacity to be even more advanced. This was compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic which caused many of the catch to be unsold due to low prices and the purchasing power of the community and processing fishermen.

Based on the records of North Java Coastal fishermen, for example, during the outbreak, the price of tuna was down from Rp. 25 thousand to Rp. 15 thousand per kilogram. Likewise mackerel fish prices fell 30.8 percent, pomfret dropped 37.8 percent, red snapper fell 37.5 percent, milkfish fell 31.8 percent, shrimp fell 44.4 percent, crabs dropped 75 percent, and trash dropped 83 , 3 percent. Even the excellent commodity that has just become a hot topic, namely lobster, has decreased by 30-40 percent at the fishermen level.

Third, the decline in the capacity of the fish processing industry. The “work from home” policy also houses processing workers, which automatically reduce the production capacity of small and medium-sized processing companies, such as pindang, salted fish, smoked fish, and fermentation. Based on market monitoring, pindang is currently being supplied by many home-based pindang who work on a very micro scale and without labor. About 650 large-scale fish processing units also make absorption adjustments, both for processing and export.

Because the development and treatment of the outbreak did not immediately stop the virus from spreading, the impact of the outbreak is expected to last a long time. As a result, the potential for fisheries economic stagnation and contraction can also last a long time. The government must look for new breakthroughs to encourage the existence of fisheries. This breakthrough is of course by strengthening local competitiveness.

If the fishermen do not want to fall into the hole of greater poverty, the government must strengthen the local competitiveness of fisheries. There are three important steps that can be taken, namely strengthening fish consumption, strengthening research on fish-based immunity and other marine biological resources, and reconstructing market and consumption-based fisheries management mechanisms. Poker Online Pontianak

Based on data from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the level of fish consumption continues to increase by 21.9 percent with the preference of fresh consumption fish products 76 percent, processed fish in food 19 percent, and processed fish 15 percent. The government needs to encourage the affirmation of eating fish by providing price subsidies to fishermen or fishermen. Affirmations can take the form of food or energy subsidies, so that fishermen are not too disadvantaged and the community can enjoy fish at cheap prices.

Second, strengthen research on immunity from fish. Most fish and algae are sources of vitamins B, B6, A, and B12 as well as omega-3 and fatty acids that can function as immunostimulants. The government provides subsidies by buying fish catches and then with universities to diversify fish products, such as processed meatballs, fish nuggets, fillets, or other forms that can be offered to the community as a food supplement.

Third, the government must carry out reconstruction of governance and adaptive programs during the epidemic. Various activities, such as seminars, workshops and coordination, have been overcome with online networks, so that funds can be utilized to encourage the growth of local competitiveness.

Our population is a huge market potential for growing national competitiveness. In this way, we not only help the growth of fishing businesses, but also contribute to improving the quality of Indonesian human resources. Fishing Industry Under Pressure.

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