To enhance national tilapia production, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has begun building a model of a Saline Tilapia Cultivation Cluster in Karawang, West Java. Saline Tilapia itself holds a significant market share, both in the domestic and international markets. Director General of Aquaculture at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries stated that according to 2021 trademap data, Indonesia ranks fifth as a global exporter of tilapia products. This means that Indonesia is one of the world's best producers of tilapia, with high competitiveness. The establishment of the Saline Tilapia Cultivation Cluster model is expected to serve as a role model for businesses utilizing public waters such as lakes. Through this model, environmental damage in public waters can be anticipated. The tilapia cultivation model applied is based on land base rather than lake base. Such a model is also expected to stimulate economic activities and directly improve the welfare of the community.Tilapia is currently increasingly in demand, leading to a significant increase in market demand. In addition to local consumption, there is high demand for tilapia commodities for export, especially from the United States, particularly in fillet form. Therefore, the average harvest size is regulated at around 700 grams per fish. The government continues to strive to increase national tilapia production by optimizing the functions of the Technical Implementation Unit under the Directorate General of Aquaculture and fostering synergy. The Saline Tilapia Cultivation Cluster model in Karawang's BLUPPB would be established in an area of 16 hectares, consisting of 10 plots measuring 2,000 square meters and 10 plots measuring 4,000 square meters. With a stocking density of 25 fish per square meter, with an average weight of 50 grams per fish and an average harvest size of 700 grams, the target is to produce a total of 672 tons or a productivity of 42 tons per hectare per cycle, with a maintenance period of 150-180 days. If the average price of saline tilapia is IDR 30,000/kg, the expected revenue can reach around IDR 20 billion.
