Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Indonesia to Crackdown on Chinese Fish Importers

Camelia Pasandaran | March 22, 2011

The Indonesian government will blacklist Chinese companies that illegally imported fish from China to the detriment of local fishermen, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the State Palace, Fadel said he had found “suspicious indications” involving 13 fish import companies “owned by three or four people.”

“I suspect mafia involvement,” he said.

Fadel, who said he did not remember the names of the companies, said checks by the ministry had revealed a significant price gap between imported and local fish.

He said in the Kramat Jati traditional market in East Jakarta, imported mackerel was selling for just Rp 4,000 (46 US cents) to Rp 5,000 per kilogram, but local mackerel sold for Rp 14,000 to Rp 15,000.

“How can we compete with them selling fish at only 25 percent of our price.”

On Monday, the ministry discovered 200 containers containing illegal fish at Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta. Most of the produce, including mackerel and salted fish, was from China.

The fish would be destroyed and the containers returned to China, he said.

Fadel said the practise had been ongoing for a long period of time and should no longer be tolerated.

Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said she would consider sanctioning the illegal fish importers.

No comments: