Indonesia has the opportunity to capture a share of the global ornamental fish market. Trademap data shows that from 2016 to 2019, Indonesia ranked fourth as a global ornamental fish exporter after Japan, Singapore, and Spain.
The five main destinations for Indonesian ornamental fish exports are China, the United States, Russia, Canada, and Singapore. Based on preliminary figures from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) compiled by the Directorate General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP), the value of Indonesian ornamental fish exports from January to March 2021 reached USD 9.2 million. This achievement is the highest compared to the same period in the last four years.
“Speaking of confidence, God willing, Indonesia will become the world’s number one ornamental fish exporter,” said the Director General of PDSPKP, Artati Widiarti.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, she said, has prepared a roadmap to accelerate the development of the national ornamental fish industry, from upstream to downstream. Artati added that the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) also includes strategies for ornamental fish development, such as increasing production and quality; trade and promotion; conservation of endemic fish species and habitats; data and information integration; and public outreach and education.
According to her, standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessments also play a crucial role in increasing competitiveness and added value in the implementation of these strategies.
“We have a strategic role not only in exploring new market opportunities and promotions, but also in further accelerating and increasing Indonesia’s ornamental fish market share internationally,” Artati explained.
Despite her optimism, Artati reminded us that the ornamental fish industry encompasses more than just fish and aquatic plants, but also encompasses derivative industries such as aquariums, accessories, aquarium maintenance services, and more. Therefore, she encouraged stakeholders to collaborate and synergize to drive the industry forward.
“The prerequisite (if we want to be number one) is that all parties must collaborate and synergize,” she said.
Meanwhile, Machmud, Marketing Director of the Directorate General of PDSPKP, explained that the global ornamental fish transaction value reached USD 6.8 billion in 2019.
This figure includes supporting facilities such as ornamental plants, food, aquariums, and so on. According to globenewswire.com, this figure is predicted to continue to rise to USD 11.3 billion by 2025.
“This is an opportunity for us to increase exports, so people will be more inclined to enjoy ornamental fish as a hobby and for health,” Machmud said while speaking at the Quality Time with BBP3KP Webinar, Session 11, “Building an Indonesian Ornamental Fish Business Center,” organized by the Center for Marine and Fisheries Product Application Testing (BBP3KP).
He stated that, based on their use, the global ornamental fish market is segmented into residential and commercial. The residential segment dominates the global market as the population of people living in urban areas increases. For example, in the UK, 4 million households keep ornamental fish, representing 14% of the total population.
“In the UK, more than 100 million ornamental fish are kept, and approximately £400 million is spent annually on this hobby,” he explained.
Going forward, Machmud hopes the commercial segment will also grow with the increasing use of aquariums as decoration in hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and office complexes.
Previously, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, stated that ornamental fish are one of Indonesia’s mainstays in supporting the local economy.
Data shows that in recent years, national ornamental fish production has continued to increase, from 1.19 billion fish in 2017 to 1.22 billion fish in 2018. This then grew to 1.68 billion fish, with a value reaching IDR 19.81 trillion in 2019.
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