North Jakarta will soon see the first modern fish market in the country following the groundbreaking ceremony in Muara Baru on Thursday.

The market, which will be developed upon 22,444 square meters of land owned by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, is set to be the first one-stop modern fish market in the country.

The three-story market will have 900 wet stalls, 69 dry stalls, 18 fishing kiosks and 68 fresh-fish kiosks.

Apart from that, the market will be completed by chilling room, ice storage, packaging room, laboratory as well as other facilities such as bank, health clinic and culinary center.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, who attended the groundbreaking led by Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, said he was glad that the ministry had decided to establish the modern market in Jakarta.

“We hope this market can be a sample of a market that has a traditional spirit, but modern management,” Anies said in his welcome speech. 

He added that he wished the market could be equal to modern markets in other countries, such as the Sydney Fish Market in Australia.

The market management could also refer to Japanese fish markets, which were always clean despite the large volume of fish sold in them, Anies said. (cal/fac)