Author: Rizal (Marine Conservation Officer for Sumatera, WWF-Indonesia)

Translator: N. E. Syaputri

The coastal area of East Aceh has been known for long as the producer of black tiger shrimp broodstock with the best quality in Indonesia. Black tiger shrimp fishery along the east coast of Aceh is carried out both for consumption as well as a shrimp broodstock for aquaculture. For shrimp aquaculture, broodstock from Aceh is the most reliable broodstock for many hatcheries in Indonesia.

As a matter of fact, black tiger shrimp broodstocks from the westernmost province in Indonesia have been exported to different broodstock centers around the globe. Yes, the black tiger shrimp, the Indonesian local shrimp, is an important commodity that largely contributes to the shrimp fisheries production in Indonesia.

However, based on data from the Research Center of Fishery Resources Recovery in 2016, the availability of shrimp broodstock from East Aceh has decreased to 10%-13%. Even after a few decades, the black tiger shrimp from aquaculture production still experiences crop failure.

The failure caused by numerous threats to the sustainability of the black tiger shrimp broodstock. Starting from the type and the use of fishing gears that is not environmentally friendly, the decrease in mangroves area, the decline in the quality of coastal waters, and the development of vannamei shrimp aquaculture. From the aquaculture practice itself, the quality of the shrimp fry and the increase of disease outbreaks overshadow the black tiger shrimp aquaculture practices in Indonesia.

Seeing the condition, the Development Planning Agency at Sub-National Level (Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Daerah/Bappeda) of Aceh Province, together with WWF-Indonesia, have committed to encourage the rise of black tiger shrimp industry in Aceh.

The initial step to accomplish the commitment is by conducting a workshop on sustainable management of black tiger shrimp resources (08/11/2018).
  

  

The activity was attended by various key stakeholders, such as Marine and Fisheries Office of Aceh Province; the Development Planning Agency at Sub-National Level; Fisheries Offices of Pidie Regency, Pidie Jaya, Bireuen, North Aceh, Lhokseumawe City, East Aceh, Langsa City, and Aceh Tamiang; academicians from different universities in Aceh; shrimp farmers; as well as shrimp broodstock fishermen and business players of black tiger shrimp.

“Through this workshop, we can share information and equate our perceptions of the nature condition, the management of black tiger shrimp broodstock, as well as black tiger shrimp aquaculture practices in Aceh,” Ir. Coco Kokarkin, M. Sc.—the representative of Directorate General of Aquaculture, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Republic of Indonesia—said when he opened the workshop which was held in the auditorium of Langsa City.

“All the data and discussions from the workshop will be an input for preparing the direction of black tiger shrimp management in Aceh Province,” he added.

All participants from the workshop have formulated several efforts to improve black tiger shrimp aquaculture in Aceh, which includes:

1. Management of black tiger shrimp broodstock resources;

2. Capacity building for the assistants and trainers of Good Aquaculture Practices (CBIB) as well as Good Seeding Practices (CPIB);

3. Building proper infrastructures to support black tiger shrimp aquaculture;

4. Making a pilot of black tiger shrimp production with international standard that is integrated in the market chain. Starting from fishing for shrimp broodstock, hatchery, farming practice, processing, to connecting to a good market at the potential area.

The formulation of the workshop will be used as a reference in making road map for black tiger shrimp resource management in Aceh. It is expected that with this road map, we can restore the glory of the black tiger shrimp industry in Aceh, like a few decades ago.