Indonesia is a big archipelagic country consisting of over 13 000 islands of various sizes. Its long coastaline has numerous extensive tidal flats, bays, lagoons, estuaries and coral reefs. A large proportion of its population is located along its coastal zone, with the majority engaged in small-scale fisheries and/or part-time farming activities. The income of these communities is often affected by the accessibility of the available marine resources and therefore also the characteristics of the climatic regime.
Some of the coastal areas are rich in shellfish resources including cockles, mussels and oysters, which are traditionally collected and utilised as food. These resources if intelligently utilised through the introduction of seafarming schemes could in fact provide new job opportunities to the economically depressed communities. This coupled with the development of numerous suitable areas, could also increase the production of edible shellfishes for the betterment of the livelihood of these coastal communities.
From the presented survey results, it is considered that the development potential of shellfish culture in Indonesia could be very promising. In an attempt to realise this potential, it is proposed to establish not less than four pilot culture farms at which suitable techniques together with applicable arrangements for farm management would be tested. This would lead to quantitative measurements of the level of performance of this new venture which would later serve as a source of information for subsequent development planning.
To facilitate this, it is essential that the training of technical personnel be considered as an ongoing prerequisite to the future shellfish farming development. In this consideration, both overseas and in-service training should be emphasised. As soon as possible the Directorate General of Fisheries should embark upon a well-timed and realistic training programme.
With the pilot culture farms and training programme enforced, due emphasis should also be given to the extension of shellfish culture techniques and general technical services to the potential and prospective shellfish farmers. Successful pilot culture farms in terms of both production and management could also be considered as demonstration farms in this connection.
The planning of development in the longer term would necessitate effective integration of national research and development inputs. It would also require the protection of culture investments and potential culture grounds against activities having a conflict of interest with the seafarming of shellfishes. In the interest of the long-term development of seafarming, it would be essential that the fisheries agency be entrusted with the powers to coordinate the institutions and other government bodies directly or indirectly concerned in the attainment of development objectives.
