Aquatic Food: A Pillar of Maritime Economic Development Towards a Golden Indonesia 2045
Aquatic food plays a very important role in the fisheries sector, which is one of the main contributors to Indonesia’s Maritime Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In the context of achieving the Golden Indonesia Vision 2045, increasing the contribution of Maritime GDP by 15 per cent by 2045 is one of the main targets, considering that currently the contribution is still around 8 per cent. Thus, aquatic food development is not just a nutritional issue, but also a strategic step to strengthen the maritime economy and support national development.
In its implementation, aquatic food development as part of the national food system must pay attention to two important aspects: availability and affordability.
Aquatic food availability means ensuring that fish and other aquatic products are available in sufficient quantities, both in terms of quality and quantity. Food safety is equally important; aquatic food must be guaranteed in terms of hygiene and nutrition in order to provide maximum benefits to society.
Affordability means that all levels of society must be able to access aquatic food easily and at affordable prices. This is important to ensure that the nutritional benefits of aquatic food can be felt by the entire population, including vulnerable groups who often experience difficulties in obtaining quality food.
Conducive environmental conditions are also necessary to ensure the availability of aquatic food sources. Given that Indonesia has a geographical condition dominated by water, there is great potential to develop the aquatic food sector. With a significant water area, sustainable management of marine resources can increase aquatic food production and encourage local consumption.
The integration of aquatic food into the national food system is expected to strengthen the pillars of development, including economic, social and environmental aspects.
A thriving fisheries sector will not only increase income for fishermen and fisheries businesses, but also create new jobs and improve national food security. By maximising the potential of aquatic food, we can reduce dependence on imported food and increase food self-sufficiency.
Furthermore, increased consumption of aquatic food can have a positive impact on public health. Aquatic food, which is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, has the potential to address malnutrition, which remains a challenge in many parts of Indonesia. With adequate nutrition, people will be more productive and healthy, which in turn contributes to economic growth.
Source: Bappenas
