The potential of aquaculture resources in Indonesia is enormous. Currently, Indonesia becomes the 4th biggest contributor of food derived from aquaculture in the world, after China, India, and Vietnam. Nevertheless, fish consumption in Indonesia is uneven, in outside Java it is generally higher than average (30.17 kg/capita) whereas in Java it is lower, even less than 20 kg/capita.
This was delivered by Prof. Dr. Ir. Rustadi, M.Sc., in his inaugural speech as professor of UGM Faculty of Agriculture which took place in the Senate Hall, Wednesday (16/11). According to Rustadi, the role of aquaculture is increasingly more important nationally and globally because its contribution in the provision of food rich with protein, employment, income, environment and poverty reduction is very massive.
However, some types of aquaculture have reduced genetic diversity and caused pollution, land conservation which leads to habitat destruction and environmental pollution as well as disease outbreaks. "In the efforts to increase production several constraints are found in terms of aquaculture because it is still in discord with the concept of sustainable development," he said.
Therefore, he proposed sustainable development in aquaculture should implement aquaculture according to supporting capacity, the development of fish with a short tropic food, poli-culture system and integrated farming, the application of environmentally friendly aquaculture, flour and fish oil substitution with alternative materials, disease control and the use of disease resistance seed and application of bio-safety.
The effect of decreased genetic diversity and pollution, land conversion, environmental pollution, parasites and disease outbreaks, need to be addressed by implementing aquaculture according to supporting capacity, the development of fish with a short tropic food, poli-culture and integrated system, the application of environmentally friendly aquaculture, disease control and the use of disease resistance seed and bio-safety.