REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Ministry of Marine and Fisheries (KKP) welcomed the holy month of Ramadan by distributing 10,000 canned fish in Yogyakarta. Director General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fisheries Products (PDSPKP) Budi Sulistiyo said this division is also part of the Movement for Eating Fish (Gemakan) in increasing the intake of fish protein for people, especially for the santri.

“A total of 4,000 canned fish products containing tuna and sardines were distributed for queues at Pondok Pesantren Krapyak, Jogokaryan Mosque, and Negoro Plosokuning Pathok Mosque,” Budi said in a written statement in Jakarta, Monday (11/3/2024).

In addition to the santri, 3,000 products were distributed to the Jogokaryan Mosque and the rest to the Pathok Negoro Plosokuning Mosque. Budi said the two mosques regularly distribute Ramadan takjil to nearby residents. Budi hopes that the fish sharing will become an educational space related to tuna fish for the community.

“We want people to be proud to eat fish, proud to eat tuna. Moreover, tuna is also delicious to be used as an iftar menu,” Budi said.

Budi said Indonesia is the world's number one producer of tuna (Thunnus, Tuna Sejati). According to its records, in 2017 tuna production reached 229,481 tons, then rose to 281,565 tons in 2018.

Then, in 2019 tuna production rose by 296,417 tons and 323,477 tons in 2020 and 343,393 tons in 2021. Budi said tuna fish can also be processed into a variety of products ranging from five-foot to five-star menus.

He exemplifies, tuna preparations including abon tuna, rendang tuna, canned tuna, tuna steak, tuna pizza, sashimi and many more. “This tuna is nutritious and can be enjoyed by many people. So people should feel the blessings of tuna, both in improved well-being and nutritional intake of tuna,” Budi said.

For information, the delivery of 10,000 canned fish was made on the sidelines of the KKP Integrated Technical Work Meeting (Rakernis) in 2024. The handover of the aid was witnessed directly by the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono.

Earlier, Minister of Marine and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono inaugurated the announcement of Indonesia's Tuna Year 2024 at the 10th National Fish Day commemoration in Jakarta. This certification is reinforced by the branding of Indonesian seafood that is safe, eco-friendly, and sustainable.

“Through synergy and collaboration of all stakeholders, it is hoped to further strengthen market access and its benefits, especially for Indonesians, as well as the global community in general,” Trenggono said.