The fishery sector in Indonesia has been one of the greatest commodities with many potentials. The capacity itself is not limited to one location only, the easternmost region of Indonesia with huge biodiversity also poses a great chance to rise. In particular, west Papua with its rich maritime sectors and fishery commodities. How good is it?
The Geographical Factor Of The Rich Marine Biodiversity
Known as the conservation province, Papua comes with a huge number of potentials. The biggest one might be the forest and land natural resources. The province’s capacity is not only limited to certain sectors, especially when the community and government consider the rich biodiversity of marine life. It shows how the geographical factor gives more than what people see.
Endemic communities tend to work as fishermen which comes with local law, technique, and trade. When such activities get proper development, the province can put the potential to its fullest. It is especially true if you consider the huge contribution of the sea commodity and fishery sector for the local or country-level transaction.
It is easier to say that the biggest sources of income of the province include natural energy, agriculture, and the sea. Hundreds of species and marine biodiversity propose huge potential for west Papua income and economy. Proper investment and development can lead to marine ecotourism or fishery commodities.
The biggest example is Raja Ampat, which is a popular site for the marine expedition, conservation, and eco-tourism. Other than that, the fishery commodities can profit from the abundance of marine ecology. Some of the fish’s harvests include groupers, swordfishes, Oil sardines, mackerels, tunas, shrimps, crabs, seaweed, and many more.
Three Fishery Regions In The Province
The province itself proposes a unique fishing area that comes with different types of fish. Each location or spot will determine what kind of fishes’ people can harvest. Two of the areas are the demersal zones that have swordfishes, red fishes, and grouper. Another zone is the Pelagic spot where fishermen can harvest Spanish mackerels, oil sardines, tunas, and many more.
Among the fish types, some of them have a good export value. Those products are shrimps, tunas, and crabs. Some of the overseas markets also reach up to the United States, Japan, and Europe. Due to the high potential and market, west Papua needs to step up its game. Fortunately, the province has determined three strategic areas for prioritized spatial harvest.
Strategic areas determination was under the Aquaculture cluster development. The aquaculture program highlights three places proposed for different commodities. The places are the Maybrat regency that focuses on developing catfish and tilapia commodities; Fak fak regency for seaweed commodities; and Manokwari will focus on producing floating net cages.
The proposal not only empower the economy and increase the local commodities production, but it also helps food security. As the community group and investors collaborate on the proposal, other local groups can adopt a similar method of aquaculture development. At the end of the day, it elevates the OAP or indigenous Papuans income.
The Development Of Fishery Commodities
Does the potential follow with proper development and investment? Yes, the local commodities and modernization technology have tremendously developed over the years. Local communities tend to use their traditional method and tools to harvest marine products. They use Kalawai or multi-pointed spears, web, and spears.
Despite being known as a simple and small-scale production, west Papua still gives one of the biggest contributions to Indonesian fish commodities. For both domestic and overseas export, the province has capable of adequate fishery export. Unfortunately, the exporting activities are mainly through Bitung, North Sulawesi, and Bali.
It means that the province did not sell the commodities directly. It takes a huge amount of effort and also costs. That is why local exports and availability should be developed even further. One of them is by developing the sea transportation and harbor. The local and central government has taken this step by developing some strategic areas, including Deprapre or on Kaimana regency.
Some other developments include road access and various infrastructure to assist the fisherman activity. One of the development projects was planned in Moraid District. Moraid is one of many locations with a huge potential in marine and sea commodities, which can be an example for many other places.
West Papua government plans to build ranges of facilities and access to the location to support local community activities. Some infrastructure development plans include building a fisherman public hall, ice plants, cold storage, and a gas station. As locals can increase production, the local fishery commodities can empower better income and economy.
The information given highlights the fact that the province is not only good as the eco-tourism sites. To help the local economy and protect food security, the locals should consider upping the game of fishery production. The potential also shows that the commodity can help satisfy the international market’s demand and increase income for locals.
