"Melimpah di Laut, Langka di Pasar: Ironi Ketersediaan Ikan di Maluku"

 

"Abundant in the Sea, Rare in the Market: The Irony of Fish Availability in Maluku"

"Abundant in the Sea, Rare in the Market: The Irony of Fish Availability in Maluku"  

Oleh:

Sitnah Aisyah Marasabessy

Maluku, as one of the island provinces in Indonesia, is known to have abundant marine fisheries potential. However, a paradox occurs when local people actually have difficulty getting fish in sufficient quantities and at affordable prices in traditional markets. Meanwhile, in other areas such as Bone, Makassar, Anyer, Banten, or Maros, fish are available in abundance every day at relatively cheap prices. This phenomenon raises questions about the factors that cause the mismatch between the potential for fish production in Maluku and its availability for local people.

Factors Affecting Fish Availability in Maluku

1. Distribution and Transportation Infrastructure

   The limited transportation infrastructure in Maluku can hamper the distribution of fish from production centers to traditional markets. The geographical conditions consisting of many islands require an efficient transportation system to ensure that fresh fish can reach consumers quickly. This limitation can cause the supply of fish in local markets to become unstable.

2. Non-Optimal Cold Chain

   The importance of the cold chain in maintaining fish freshness cannot be overstated. Lack of adequate cooling facilities, such as cold storage and refrigerated transportation, can cause fish to deteriorate quickly before reaching the market. This can reduce the availability of fresh fish for consumers and affect selling prices.

3. Export and Distribution Priorities to Other Regions

   As a region with high fish production, Maluku may prioritize exporting or shipping fish to other regions with high demand and better distribution infrastructure. As a result, the supply of fish for the local market is limited, thus affecting the availability and price of fish for the local community.

4. Local Policies and Regulations

   Local government policies in managing fishery resources and their distribution also play an important role. Ineffective regulations or regulations that do not support the interests of local communities can lead to uneven fish distribution and unstable prices in traditional markets.

Comparison with Other Regions

Areas such as Bone, Makassar, Anyer, Banten, and Maros have better access to transportation and distribution infrastructure. In addition, the presence of large ports and adequate storage facilities allows for efficient fish distribution to traditional markets. The abundant availability of fish at affordable prices in these areas shows that good infrastructure and distribution management play an important role in ensuring the availability of seafood for the community.

Conclusion

Although Maluku has abundant marine fisheries potential, challenges in distribution infrastructure, cold chains, export priorities, and local policies can cause a mismatch between fish production and availability in traditional markets. To overcome this problem, infrastructure improvements, development of adequate storage facilities, and policies that support the interests of local communities are needed. Thus, the people of Maluku can enjoy abundant marine products at affordable prices, in accordance with the fisheries potential of their region.