Pemprov Papua Siapkan Ekspor Produk Olahan Ikan ke Amerika Serikat

Kepala Dinas Kelautan dan Perikanan (DKP) Provinsi Papua, Iman Djuniawal, mengatakan penerimaan produk olahan ikan Papua di pasar Amerika Serikat menjadi peluang strategis yang perlu dipertahankan dan dikembangkan secara berkelanjutan.

“Di sana produk kita diterima. Ini perlu dijaga dan dipertahankan karena merupakan peluang untuk pemasaran di luar Indonesia,” ujar Iman.

Ia menjelaskan, pengiriman produk olahan ikan tersebut dilakukan dari Jayapura melalui Pelabuhan Surabaya sebelum diteruskan ke Amerika Serikat. Bahan baku produk berasal dari hasil tangkapan nelayan kecil yang dikumpulkan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan pengolahan.

Menurut Iman, peluang pemasaran di pasar internasional diharapkan dapat memberikan nilai tambah bagi sektor perikanan Papua. Selain memperluas jangkauan pemasaran produk daerah, kegiatan ekspor juga berpotensi meningkatkan penyerapan hasil tangkapan nelayan dan mendorong pertumbuhan usaha pengolahan ikan.

Meski demikian, keberlanjutan ekspor membutuhkan dukungan pasokan bahan baku yang memadai. Ketersediaan ikan menjadi salah satu faktor penting agar proses produksi berjalan lancar dan pengiriman dapat dilakukan secara lebih rutin.

Saat ini, pengiriman produk olahan ikan tersebut berlangsung sekitar tiga bulan sekali. Ke depan, frekuensi ekspor diharapkan dapat meningkat menjadi beberapa kali dalam sepekan apabila ketersediaan bahan baku dan kapasitas produksi mampu memenuhi kebutuhan pasar.

Iman menilai, peningkatan pasokan ikan dan penguatan kapasitas pengolahan dapat membuka peluang pengembangan investasi di sektor perikanan. Dengan demikian, potensi kelautan Papua tidak hanya menjadi sumber penghidupan masyarakat pesisir, tetapi juga dapat dikembangkan sebagai komoditas bernilai ekonomi yang mampu menjangkau pasar global.

Pemprov Papua berharap peluang ekspor ini dapat terus dikembangkan melalui penguatan rantai pasok, kesinambungan produksi, serta kerja sama antara nelayan dan pelaku usaha pengolahan.

“Langkah tersebut diharapkan dapat meningkatkan daya saing produk perikanan Papua sekaligus memperluas manfaat ekonomi bagi masyarakat, khususnya nelayan kecil,” katanya.

Melalui pengembangan pasar ekspor, sektor kelautan dan perikanan diharapkan dapat memberikan kontribusi lebih besar terhadap perekonomian daerah serta mendorong pemanfaatan potensi sumber daya perikanan Papua secara berkelanjutan. ***

The head of the Papua Provincial Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office, Iman Djuniawal, said the acceptance of Papua’s processed fish products in the U.S. market represents a strategic opportunity that needs to be sustained and developed over the long term.

“Our products have been accepted there. We need to maintain and build on this acceptance, as it represents an opportunity to market our products outside Indonesia,” Iman said.

He explained that the processed fish products are shipped from Jayapura via the Port of Surabaya before being transported onward to the United States. The raw materials consist of catches from small-scale fishers, which are collected to meet processing needs.

According to Iman, access to international markets is expected to generate added value for Papua’s fisheries sector. In addition to expanding market access for local products, exports could increase demand for fishers’ catches and stimulate growth in fish-processing businesses.

However, sustaining exports requires an adequate supply of raw materials. The availability of fish is a key factor in ensuring smooth production and enabling more regular shipments.

Currently, these processed fish products are shipped approximately once every three months. In the future, the frequency of shipments is expected to increase to several times a week, provided that raw material supplies and production capacity are sufficient to meet market demand.

Iman said that increasing the supply of fish and strengthening processing capacity could create investment opportunities in the fisheries sector. Papua’s marine resources could therefore continue to support coastal livelihoods while providing raw materials for commercially valuable products that can compete in global markets.

The Papua Provincial Government hopes to further develop this export opportunity by strengthening supply chains, maintaining consistent production, and promoting cooperation between fishers and fish processing businesses.

“These measures are expected to enhance the competitiveness of Papua’s fisheries products while expanding economic benefits for communities, particularly small-scale fishers,” he said.

By expanding its export markets, the marine and fisheries sector is expected to contribute more to the regional economy and promote the sustainable use of Papua’s fisheries resources. ***