The Comeback of Penaeus Monodon in Indonesia

The development of P. vannamei in Indonesia has lead to an unprospective future. Vannamei is no longer resistant to diseases and ideas of going back with monodon is raising. Monodon itself is a local species and still has its prospect to reign again the shrimp production in Indonesia.

In the eighties till the beginning of the nineties, Indonesia led in the production of shrimp especially the monodon species, but due to bad management in practices the quality of pond and also the shrimp declined very fast.

Still the is hope for Indonesia shrimp, but some people said its to late because already other Asian countries such as India, Vietnam, Thailand had developed it very seriously for a great comeback.

Monodon is an original species from Indonesia so why not it isn't developed like vannamei?

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EU create higher standard for Indonesian aquaculture and fisheries export products

Indonesian government must reassure higher standards for aquaculture and fisheries product with an export destination to Europe.

27 countries in Europe makes the exporting condition even harder by creating new rules for importing fisheries product to their country. Martani Huseini, the Directorate General for Fish Marketing and Processing in Indonesia said that EU wants a certification of the fisheries and aquaculture products, on the other hand Indonesia does not see to be ready because of limited fish processing facility.

The chemical contents of the fish and other requirements such as traceability conditions (source of fish juvenile, feed used, freshness, water quality) is required. The direct impact is a lot of exporters could not fulfill these requirements. From 200 exporters, only 113 exporters are have the ability to export the product.

The export volume of Indonesia fisheries and aquaculture products has reached 857 782 tonnes with an amount of 1,91 billion USD. Export to EU is around 20% of that amount. Although this condition exists, EU still remain a promising market for the future of Indonesian aquaculture and fisheries.

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FDA survey shows fisheries product in good standard

Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has approved Indonesian fishery product and it meets international standard. This was a result of a 10 day visit by FDA to the shrimp ponds and fish processing in 10 cities and 6 island of Indonesia.

Brett Koonsee (FDA) said on Friday (14/9à that Indonesian aquaculture has done well and meet environmental standards and this answers the doubt of USA citizen that Indonesian products are below international standard.

Brett emphasize that the feed of aquaculture does not use extensive chemical products. The development of organic shrimp ponds are thus safe for human. The fish processing
industry is modernized and able to produce high quality product.

Brett also wish that Indonesia could maintain the quality of aquaculture to increase the trust of international consumers towards Indonesian aquaculture product. He also said that the government of Indonesia and fisheries association should not only care for the major aquaculture players but also improve the small scale aquaculture to increase also the quality. If the Indonesia aquaculture is managed and maintained in such a way thus Indonesia should be the largest aquaculture producer.

Martani Husein, (Dirjen Produk Perikanan dan Pemasaran Departemen Kelautan dan Perikanan) said that the survey done by FDA USA showed the serious intention of USA to Indonesia. The export of fishery product form Indonesia has reached 2,1 billion USD with 690 million USD going to USA. From the total of the export to USA, about 416 million USD are shrimp products (50 000 tonnes).

Indonesia is very thankful for the FDA result, it also proves that Indonesian product could reah international standards.

Source: Surya Online

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NGO wants immediate halt of shrimp farm expansion

Shrimp farming has been destructive and thought to the cause of environmental disaster. Millions of hectares of mangrove forest has been converted into large scale shrimp ponds.

M. Riza Damanik, the manager of sea and coast campaign of WALHI (Friends of Earth Indonesia), said that the shrimp ponds has a negative effect to the environment and the local society. Ironically the mega project is not for local consumptions but exported to countries such as USA, China, Japan.

In detail the effects were decrease of water and land quality, destroyed mangrove ecosystem, social decrease, potential of abrasion, sedimentation and salinization of ground water in the shrimp farm region.

Because of that WALHI, ASIA (Asia Solidarity Against Industrial Aquaculture), dan MAP (Mangrove Action Project) with 35 NGO from various countries will attend “South – North Consultation”, placed in Lampung, from 2 - 6 September 2007.

The consultation forum is important to exchange information also to gather force to resist the expansion of the shrimp farm.

Source Tempo Interaktif

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