Fish comsumption in Indonesia still low, minister says

Mataram (ANTARA News) - Although Indonesia is known as a maritime country, fish consumption in the country is still low.

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Freddy Numberi said here on Sunday the Indonesia`s national fish consumption reached only 26 kilograms per capita a year.

He said the figure was lower than that in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

He made the statement when launching a "Gemarikan" (which literally means to like fish) movement to promote the people`s fish consumption.

He said fish consumption in the country needed to be increased with a view to improving heatlh, and therefore the Gemarikan movement had been launched.

He said West Nusa Tenggara province could become the champion of this movement in view of its high fish resources.

The minister said a national forum dubbed Forikan (fish forum) to increase fish consumption had been set up as a strategic step in improving fish consumption.

He hoped regional forums would soon be set up across the country.

Fish consumption in West Nusa Tenggara reached only 21 kilograms per capita a year. "This is a real cause for concern, because the region has enormous fish resources," governor of the region Lalu Serinata said.

He said people need to be encouraged to consume more fish.