Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister Sharif C. Sutardjo said Indonesia's gross domestic product from the fisheries sector grew by 6.9 percent in 2013, up from 6.2 percent in 2010, although the country's economic growth declined to 5.7 percent in 2013 from 6.2 percent in 2010.

'Indonesia's marine economy offers big opportunities. ['¦] This is why both maritime resource management and the improvement of investments focused on the blue-economy principle must be accelerated so the maritime sector can grow to become a leading sector in national development,' said Sharif in his opening remarks at a fisheries and maritime affairs seminar in Pekanbaru on Thursday.

Data from an agriculture survey conducted by the Central Statistics Agency in 2013 showed that the earnings of a family working in the fisheries sector could reach Rp 50.84 million (US$4,175.77) per year, far higher than that earned by a paddy or legume farmer who could only earn Rp 13 million per year. Meanwhile, business players in the farming and animal husbandry sectors could earn Rp 20.44 million and Rp 14.56 million per year respectively on average.

'The fisheries and maritime sectors are proven to be tough and can provide hope in the midst of economic slowdown. Those figures are proof that those involved in fisheries are more prosperous than farmers and animal breeders,' said Sharif.

There is much potential in the fisheries sector, including fish farming, that has not been tapped optimally. In 2013, 5.86 million tons of fish was caught and 13.7 million tons of fish farmed.

'If it was supported by innovative capacity and science and technology, this productiveness could be increased to 20 percent per year,' said Sharif. (ebf)

Popular

Analysis: Prabowo’s approval rating 51 percent and falling

A healthy economy must be felt

Poverty falls, but the line is too low, economists say