The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) confirms that the capacity of cold storage warehouses in Java is sufficient to accommodate the fish caught by fishermen. Additionally, the tightening of fish product imports is being implemented to optimize the absorption of domestically produced fish. Director General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP), Budi Sulistiyo, reported that out of 931 cold storage warehouses in Java, the average occupancy rate is only 48%. Budi emphasized that fish owners currently have trading strategies to sell their products based on economic calculations. According to him, cold storage utilization correlates with each company's business strategy. KKP has prepared anticipatory steps to prevent fish overstocking in cold storage by facilitating partnerships between cold storage managers and offtakers, exporters, or trading partners to expand market access. Additionally, the measured fishery policy (PIT) model can serve as a benchmark since fish are landed in designated fishing zones, reducing fish concentration in cold storage warehouses in Java. "The average occupancy rate of 48% shows that fish stock availability is sufficient to meet industrial and consumer raw material needs," Budi explained.
To maximize fish absorption during peak harvests and minimize fishermen's losses, KKP is implementing the Fishery Commodity Warehouse Receipt System (SRG). Budi mentioned that SRG also aims to help fishermen access capital and stabilize fish prices. Another step taken to optimize fish absorption is facilitating distribution cooperation from production centers to processing industries. As a form of support for fishermen, KKP ensures that the import tightening policy through the commodity balance is strictly enforced, and imports are only allowed for fish species not found in Indonesian waters. The success of this import tightening is demonstrated by a 51% and 38% decrease in import volume and value, respectively, from January to May 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Budi added that the implementation of the fishery import policy mechanism is integrated with the Indonesia National Single Window (INSW) and regulated under Presidential Regulation No. 32 of 2022 concerning the Commodity Balance and Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation No. 6 of 2023 concerning the Preparation of the Fishery Commodity Balance.
