BelitongToday, Tanjungpandan – The Fisheries Department of Belitung Regency recorded a decrease in the volume of live grouper export from Belitung to Hong Kong throughout 2022 from 63.35 tons to 33 tons.
“Live grouper exports from Belitung to Hong Kong throughout 2022 were recorded at 33 tons, down from the previous year’s 63.35 tons,” said Head of the Aquaculture Division, Belitung Fisheries Department, Rekie Irawan in Tanjungpandan, Friday (1/27).
Moreover, the decline in live grouper export to Hong Kong was due to a number of factors, one of which was the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused consumers of Belitung live grouper in Hong Kong to decline,” he said.
He added, the decline in Belitung live grouper exports was caused by the live grouper transport ship being damaged.
“There are two transport ships that could visit Belitung carrying the grouper but one ship is damaged,” he said.
Furthermore, he added that the damage caused the live grouper transport fleet to be limited.
“Transport ships are limited so that our region loses and ships sail more to eastern Indonesia,” he said.
In addition, he added that Hong Kong is still the main market for live grouper exports from Belitung.
“Grouper consumers in Hong Kong are fond of beautiful groupers and challenged groupers with sizes above five kilograms,” he said.
Furthermore, his party is targeting 100 tons of live grouper exports from Belitung to Hong Kong in 2023.
“We are optimistic the target will be achieved and we target export activities every month and a half,” he said. (Nazriel)
