Driving factors of Indonesian import of fish meal

Abstract

Fish meal is an imported raw material for feed industry in Indonesia. This study aims to analyze driving factors and control strategies of fish meal import. Primary and secondary data were used by exploring time series data and interviewing some actors in the feed industry in Surabaya and DKI Jakarta. Data and information were analyzed using the Fishbone Diagram and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The results indicate that Indonesian fish meal import is driven by internal and external factors: low production, low protein contents and certification of local fish meal, export barriers, and the continuity of fish supplies. The AHP method provides three strategies for controlling Indonesian import of fish meal: 1) to increase the production of local fish meal; 2) to utilize fish supplies from catching practices as fish meal; and 3) to assist and facilitate the local fish meal industry for quality certification. This study offers some policy recommendations: improving national system of fish logistics to maintain continuity and availability of fish supplies for the local fish meal industry, initiating collaboration between governments and private sectors on developing medium-scale fish meal industry by utilizing fresh fish supplies, and assisting fish meal industry to implement quality standard and certification.