Ministry targets RI No. 1 fish producer

JAKARTA: Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister Fadel Muhammad said that Indonesia should aim to become the world's largest producer of fish and fish products by 2012.

"Indonesia must become a center for *commercial* fishing, so that we can take a commanding role in the world's fish trade," Fadel said in Gorontalo, as quoted by Antara news agency on Monday.

Fadel said that Indonesia's fish and marine resources were the largest in the world, and there-fore it was logical that Indonesia should increase its production dramatically.

He said his ministry aimed to increase the country's fish production by 300 percent next year.

Nevertheless, he said, his office would need budget support from the House of Representatives to finance its many programs.

Fadel, the former Gorontalo governor, added his ministry would adopt Gorontalo's concept of "minapolitan", a combination of programs aimed to increase the income of farmers and fishermen. - JP