The Ministry gears up for aquaculture revival in flood-affected Sumatra
Jakarta (ANTARA) – In response to floods and severe weather that impacted Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries is outlining recovery measures for the aquaculture sector.
Tb. Haeru Rahayu, the ministry’s Director General of Aquaculture, announced that a preliminary assessment of the damaged areas and cultivators has been conducted through collaboration with regional governments and the ministry’s technical implementation units (UPTs).
“The aquaculture zones spanning Aceh to West Sumatra cover nearly 41,000 hectares,” he told reporters after a Jakarta press conference reviewing the marine and fisheries sector’s performance on Monday.
Rahayu noted that Aceh sustained the heaviest impact, with roughly 38,875 to 40,000 hectares of aquaculture area affected across 16 districts and cities.
In North Sumatra, about 562 hectares of aquaculture space across 11 districts and cities were affected, while in West Sumatra, around 255.9 hectares across 11 districts and cities were impacted.
“In Aceh, the number of affected cultivators stands at 31,944 people, organized into 1,051 clusters,” he added.
He pointed out that the damage extended beyond pond sites to irrigation canals, sluice gates, ponds, and even the broader aquaculture support network, including electricity at several production hubs.
For an initial response, the ministry has established a Disaster Response Task Force, working with regional governments to ensure a swift on-the-ground reaction.
The recovery plan currently in development emphasizes rehabilitating the aquaculture areas and delivering aid to cultivators, while relocation remains an option under ongoing review.
After consultations with regional authorities, the most viable routes appear to be rehabilitation efforts and targeted assistance.
Preliminary estimates place the total recovery budget for aquaculture across the three provinces at around Rp5.4 trillion (approximately US$323.9 million), with Aceh receiving the largest share.
The ministry stresses its commitment to accelerating the recovery so that aquaculture activities can resume promptly and prevent disruptions to cultivators in the affected regions.
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Translator: Aria Ananda, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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