Lebak Regency Targets Freshwater Fish Self-Sufficiency by 2027

RRI.CO.ID, Lebak - The Lebak Regency Administration in Banten Province is transforming its aquaculture sector into a primary economic engine, setting a firm target to achieve total freshwater fish self-sufficiency by 2027.

By eliminating reliance on external supplies, the local administration aims to fortify food security while simultaneously boosting the livelihoods of thousands of local cultivators through modernized farming techniques and infrastructure investment.

Head of Lebak Fisheries Agency, Winda Triana, remarked that her team is working intensively to ensure the region can meet its own consumption demands internally. This ambitious roadmap is being executed through the systematic counseling and mentorship of 644 freshwater fish farming groups.

With approximately ten members per group, the initiative acts as a significant employment driver, providing stable income for thousands of residents across the regency.

A critical component of this transformation is the improvement of cultivation standards, specifically targeting the "Attitude, Behavior, and Skills" (PSK) of the farmers. The agency is actively working to eradicate unhygienic traditional practices, such as the use of improper waste for feed, while encouraging the adoption of superior fish seeds for better yields.

To support this, the administration is prioritizing the evaluation and formation of specialized groups. Simultaneously, they are upgrading facilities at the Freshwater and Brackish Water Aquaculture Seed Center (BATP) in Cipanas, including the renovation of cultivation ponds and administrative offices.

"We believe these activities will significantly increase the freshwater fish population, allowing our fish self-sufficiency program to be realized," Winda said on Thursday, April 23, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The economic potential of the sector is already evident. In 2025, Lebak recorded a freshwater fish production of 4,089.15 tons. This output, which includes catfish, tilapia, carp, gourami, pangasius, vaname shrimp, and pomfret, generated a massive monetary circulation of IDR 141 billion (USD 8,154,241).

Winda expressed firm confidence that by 2027, every household demand for fish in Lebak will be met by local producers. This optimism is mirrored by practitioners like Maman, a cultivator from Maja Subdistrict, who successfully supplies 15 to 20 tons of catfish weekly to vendors in both Lebak and Serang.

"We are able to supply the market almost every week thanks to the guidance provided by the local administration, “concluded Maman. ***