Govt designs special fuel pricing for mid-sized fishermen

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is formulating a dedicated, discounted fuel pricing scheme for fishermen operating mid-to-large-sized vessels between 30 and 200 gross tonnage (GT) to safeguard the sustainability of the national fishing industry.

The policy initiative was discussed during a limited coordination meeting between Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto in Jakarta on Monday.

"We are discussing fuel prices specifically for these fishing vessels (30–200 GT) to provide them with special, capped prices," Trenggono told reporters following the briefing.

However, Trenggono explained that the government is still evaluating several alternative pricing formulas. Consequently, the exact amount of the special price and the final policy mechanism will not be determined until the deliberation process is fully completed.

He noted that the proposal was initiated in response to grievances from fishermen operating mid-sized commercial vessels who requested more affordable fuel options to alleviate high seafaring operational costs.

The government will carefully weigh various parameters before enacting the policy, ensuring the special price effectively maintains the viability of fishing businesses while aligning with national fiscal capacity and targeted distribution systems.

Trenggono added that the government aims to conclude the discussions on the special fuel scheme within this week to provide a timely solution for the fisheries sector.

Currently, fishing vessels within the 30 to 200 GT bracket do not qualify for subsidized fuel and are forced to buy at standard commercial industrial rates.

According to ministry data, fuel expenditures represent 70 percent of a fishing vessel's total operational costs, severely denting profit margins and stalling maritime productivity.

The ministry’s Director General of Capture Fisheries Lotharia Latif stated that the current framework places an unsustainable burden on local operators.

Therefore, according to him, the government is actively striving to address these business needs with an appropriate pricing scheme to ensure vessels remain operational and national fishing continues at optimal capacity.

Latif explained that while operators have long advocated for capped fuel rates, the state must evaluate budgetary boundaries and long-term regulatory sustainability before implementation.

While the specific discount margin remains under wraps, Latif emphasized that the calculated formula will firmly prioritize the economic survival of local fishermen.

"That is why we are currently calculating this, and we will finalize it within the next week. The bottom line is that the government is thinking about the fishermen," Latif concluded.

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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Yashinta Difa

Editor: Arie Novarina

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