The government of Biak Numfor Regency, Papua, through the operation of the Biak Integrated Maritime Fisheries Center (SKPT) business partner, until mid-August 2023, has realized that fresh tuna exports to Japan reached 140.4 tons. Especially with the addition of Batik Air flights from Frans Kaisiepo Biak airport, it was hoped that it could support tuna exports to Japanese destination countries. For now, air transport supports fish exports to Japan, according to Effendi, still with Garuda Indonesia flights once a week every Thursday. Meanwhile, Lion Air's flight service from Biak, according to Effendi, flies once a day for the Biak-Jayapura and Biak-Makassar and Jakarta routes. The government hope that the Batik Air company, which has opened the Biak-Jayapura-Makassar route, can also provide cargo services to increase tuna exports.
Regarding the export plans to other countries in Asean, such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, according to the Head of Office Effendi, until now there has not been any because they still need to conduct assessments with investors. The potential for Yellowfin tuna in Biak waters is very abundant, so opportunities to increase exports to other countries are still being explored. Previously, the potential for fresh yellowfin tuna in Biak Numfor waters, Papua, reached approximately 800 thousand tons per year. Biak Numfor waters are included in the 717 State Fisheries Management Area covering the waters of Cenderawasih Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Based on data from the Biak Numfor Fisheries Service, the biggest export of fresh Yellow Fins tuna during the January-August 2023 period was the 29th export on May 17 of 4.6 tons and the 42nd export on July 21 of 4.4 tons.
