DENPASAR ~

The breakthrough of Marine and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti against illegal vessels operating in Indonesian waters are very profitable for fisheries sector in Bali, said chief representative of Bank Indonesia (BI) Region III Bali Dewi Setyowati.

“The growth of sea fish catch in the fourth quarter 2014 reached 98 percent which was 10.6 thousand tons, a pretty good number,” said Dewi Setyowati in Denpasar on Tuesday.

In Bali regional economic studies report, it is stated that based on the result of the survey, the high rate of growth, apart from better  weather conditions compared to previous years, is also because of the consistency of eradication towards illegal fishing.

However, the development of fisheries subcategories is still overshadowed by some exporters in Bali that still does not meet the standards of countries that bought the fish so that fishery export especially tuna is decreasing.

Department of Industry and Trade in Bali noted that due to unfavorable weather in early 2014, the catch is reduced, the foreign exchange earned from the fisheries sector for 2014 only 113 million US dollars, a decrease 1.5 percent from the previous year that reached 114.8 million US dollars. Bali fisheries sector trade is mostly fresh or frozen tuna in order to meet the demand of foreign markets, besides the trade of crab, snapper, grouper, lobster and aquarium fish.