PORTALJABAR, DISTRICT. KARAWANG - Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin accompanied Indonesian President Joko Widodo inaugurating the modeling of the saline tilapia (oreochromis niloticus) cultivation pond area at the Aquaculture Production Business Service Hall, Karawang Regency, Wednesday (8/5/2024).

The modeling of saline tilapia cultivation covering an area of 80 hectares is projected to become a model for cultivating similar fish along the Pantura area from Serang (Banten) to Banyuwangi (East Java) covering an area of 78 thousand hectares.

Apart from increasing national production, tilapia has now become a strategic commodity that can become Indonesia's mainstay in the international market.

In his remarks, President Jokowi said that tilapia cultivation has a very large world market demand, namely USD 14.4 billion or around IDR 230 trillion in 2024.

"Therefore, we must take advantage of the large market demand," said Joko Widodo.

The modeling of saline tilapia cultivation located in Pusakajaya Village, Cilebar District, could be a model for business actors who utilize public waters, especially along the Pantura coast.

Saline tilapia is a type of tilapia fish that can be cultivated in brackish waters. This type of fish has euryhaline properties which can tolerate changes in salinity over a wide range.

This fish is able to grow and reproduce at a salinity of 0 – 20 ppt and can still live at a salinity of 35 ppt.

Jokowi said that the success of modeling saline tilapia cultivation would encourage similar cultivation on 78 thousand hectares in the North Pantura. The amount that can be produced from 78 thousand hectares is no less than 4 million tons per year.

"We will prepare these 78 thousand hectares, now do the modeling first, because when it is finished the amount that can be produced will be no less than 4 million tons per year," he said.

The budget needed to build a tilapia cultivation area on 78 thousand hectares is IDR 13 trillion. Jokowi said the budget would be prepared in the 2025 and 2026 APBN.

"78 thousand hectares would require approximately Rp. 13 trillion. We will see what is here first which is very visible and then I will prepare it in the 2025 and 2026 APBN. I will whisper it to the new government so that this big dream can be realized," he said.