Kupang, E. Nusa Tenggara (AntaraNews NTT) - Tuna and skipjack are still the main fishery commodities exported from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), a local official said here on Thursday (21/6).
"Until now tuna and skipjack have remained the primadonna among the fishery export commodities from NTT," head of the Station of Fish Quarantine and Quality Control (KIPM) in Kupang Jimmy Elwaren said here on Wednesday (20/6).
Jimmy said every month there are orders for tuna fish and skipjack from a number of countries including Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, China and Brunei Darussalam.
The most recent exports of tuna loin were in May, 2018 totaling 20.4 tons with destinations including China, Japan and Brunei Darussalam. Skipjack is exported mainly to Japan to which exports reached 37 tons of frozen and steamed skipjack.
"Tuna fish and skipjack have always been among the top five export commodities from NTT every month," Jimmy said. He said NTT`s sea territory of 200,000 sq. kilometers is known to have fishing grounds with abundant fish stock including tuna and skipjack.
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Many fishing vessels operate in NTT waters to catch only tuna and skipjack for domestic and export markets, he said. He said he was optimistic tuna and skipjack from NTT would remain high in demand in the markets including export market as the quality is quite competitive.
He cited China began to import tuna fish and skipjack from NTT in May, 2018 after it knew the quality of tuna and skipjack from the region. Based on the KIPM record, China began to import tuna and skipjack from NTT only in May, 2018. In 2016-2017 , there was no record of exports of fishery commodities to China from NTT.
"The first export to China in May totaled around 10 tons of tuna fish and around 20 tons of skipjack," Jimmy said, adding,"it would serve to test the market." He said the country`s exports of fishery products have increased following the government adopting a tough policy against illegal fishing .
Under the present government, more than 300 foreign fishing vessels have been exploded in the sea after being declared guilty by the court of illegally operating in Indonesian waters.
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