President Joko Widodo has officially opened the largest and first modern shrimp pond in Indonesia located in Kebumen Regency, Central Java. The location was previously an empty land with a traditional pond that had a low productivity of only 0.6 tons/hectare/year.
The traditional pond had an irregular shape and no reservoirs or wastewater treatment plants.
The newly constructed area-based shrimp pond is expected to produce high-quality shrimp, with a target yield of over 40 tons per hectare.
During the inauguration, President Jokowi stated, “In this area, 60 hectares of shrimp ponds have been completed, which will produce shrimp with an expected yield of more than 40 tons per hectare, and this shrimp cultivation area has cost Rp 175 billion.”
The President also expressed his hope that the Kebumen shrimp cultivation area would serve as a model for other provinces, as the modern management practices implemented can be used to breed Vaname shrimp.
He stated, “This can be copied and applied in other areas. We hope this can be a good example for Vaname shrimp cultivation, which requires clean water and detailed management, and we hope this can be an example for all of us.”
The construction of the area-based shrimp pond in Kebumen was carried out based on ecological and economic considerations, with a focus not only on increasing the welfare of the community and regional income but also on preserving the ecosystem.
To ensure ecosystem preservation, the shrimp pond is equipped with water reservoirs, wastewater treatment installations (IPAL), water intake, outlet channels, laboratories, feed warehouses, post-harvest buildings, generator houses, pond keeper houses, and production roads.
The shrimp pond follows the principles of the blue economy, which aims to protect and preserve marine ecosystems while also promoting economic growth.
President Jokowi highlighted the importance of the IPAL in the new shrimp pond, stating that it ensures that the residual cultivation process is not directly discharged into the sea, but is treated first.
This aspect is crucial in ensuring that the pond is environmentally friendly and does not damage mangroves.
In his words, “In principle, this shrimp pond is very environmentally friendly following the principles of the blue economy. It does not damage mangroves because it has water treatment, IPAL, and reservoirs. IPAL is the most important aspect, so that the residual cultivation process is not directly discharged into the sea, but is treated first.”
Overall, the new shrimp pond in Kebumen is expected to have a positive impact on the community, the regional economy, and the ecosystem, and serve as an example of sustainable shrimp cultivation in Indonesia.
