On 15 September 2025, the Governor of Riau Islands, Ansar Ahmad, officially inaugurated the export of 7 tons of grouper fish from Sirai Island, Bintan, to Hong Kong. The exported grouper consisted of 3.5 tonnes of tiger grouper, cantang and mud grouper from Sirai Island, which were shipped together with 3.5 tonnes of grouper from Sedanau, West Bunguran, Natuna, as the export hub for Hong Kong. This export launch is a significant milestone, as it signals the resumption of fishery commodity exports from the Riau Islands to Hong Kong, which had been suspended for the past seven months. Furthermore, it contributes to the achievement of national fishery export targets. Grouper is one of the Riau Islands' leading commodities, with high economic value and strong demand in the international market, contributing significantly to both the regional and national economies.
The Riau Islands have significant potential for fisheries, encompassing both capture fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the processing and marketing of fishery products. In order to maintain its sustainability, the Riau Islands Provincial Government has prepared an aquaculture conservation area covering approximately 2.9 million hectares. In 2024, Indonesia's fisheries exports reached USD 5.95 billion, representing a 5.7% increase from the previous year. This achievement positions Indonesia as one of the world's leading suppliers of fisheries products, with a 3.2% share of global imports in 2024. Key destinations for Indonesia's fisheries exports include the United States, China, ASEAN countries, Japan, and the European Union.
