Indonesia launches four modern fishing ports to boost tuna and squid exports

At the groundbreaking of Pengambengan Port in Jembrana, Bali, the minister revealed a plan to transform four selected ports into state-of-the-art fishing hubs and international fish markets. The chosen locations are Pengambengan, Cirebon in West Java, Cilacap in Central Java, and Bitung in North Sulawesi, each selected for their strategic role in the fisheries sector. The Bali and Cilacap upgrades will focus on expanding bluefin tuna and squid production, while Bitung’s development targets the eastern Indonesian fish industry.

The initiative is presented as a pilot, with performance reviews guiding possible replication at other ports, and a feasibility study is already under way for Belawan Port in Medan, North Sumatra. The approach mirrors other fisheries programmes such as the Red and White Fishing Village project and integrated shrimp farming estates.