Fish import from Japan is expected to return to normal this month as the Japanese government already issued a radiation-free certification. Saut Hutagalung, Foreign Marketing Director of the Marine and Fishery Ministry, said that in April, there were two companies which imported 18 containers of fish from Japan.Saut said that each container contained 25 tons of skipjack and mackerel. In April, there were 450 tons of fish imported from Japan. The Ministry temporarily halted fish imports from Japan in March, in line with Ministry Decree No 12/2011 on Fishery and Fish Cultivation from Japan. The Ministry and the National Atomic Agency also tested the radioactive level of the imported fish. It is prescribed that radiation should be lower than 70 becquerels per kilogram.
Saut added that imports should return to normal this month, but the "radiation-scare" may lower fish imports from Japan by US$ 2 million from US$ 22 million last year to US$ 20 million. Indonesia has a higher fish export value to Japan, which reached US$ 600 million last year.
Victor Nikijuluw, Director General of Fishery Processing and Marketing from the Ministry, said that there are five special radiation-testing laboratories in five seaports, these are in Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Makasar and Batam.
Source: Indonesia Finance Today
