It looks like the bold moves of our new Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti, are already making waves overseas. Her ministry’s moratorium on new fishing licenses for foreign vessels is already having a positive impact on Indonesia, while at the same time reducing the supply of fish to Singapore Hong Kong and Malaysia.
“I heard a report that [the supply of fish to Singapore and Hong Kong had decreased],” Susi said on Monday, as quoted by Merdeka.
“It’s because there are no more [fish] coming from Malaysia, some ships no longer have supplies,” she said.
As dictated by basic economic principles, the reduced supply of fish is causing prices to go up in those neighboring countries.
“I have not yet received a detailed report on the decline in fish supplies to [neighboring countries]. But I heard the price of fish began was beginning to rise in those countries,” Susi said.
Susi hopes this results in those neighboring countries buying more fish in Indonesia. “So that’s great. Later they will purchase directly from us at a higher price. That’s what we want,” she said.
In addition, Susi said she had received some very positive reports from fishermen in Medan and Balikpapan. “I’ve already got reports from Medan and Balikpapan saying ‘Thank you, Ibu Susi, the price of mackerel is so cheap now. Usually we can’t eat mackerel because it is so expensive,’” she said.
“Usually mackerel is much more expensive than tilapia. Now people here can afford it,” Susi said.
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