Why Japan Is Racing to Secure Indonesia's Flying Fish Roe—The Extraordinary Export Treasure the World Wants!

Wow! Japan Is Competing for Indonesia's Flying Fish Roe—What Makes Its Export Value So Extraordinary?

 

At that time (February 2009), a Japanese company has expressed interest in importing flying fish roe from Indonesia. Therefore, we are presenting this article originally published by Trubus for readers interested in expanding Indonesia's flying fish roe exports to Japan. However, an important question arises: Should more advanced fishing gear be used?

 

Flying Fish Roe Export

 

Adapted from Trubus Indonesia

 

Tiny yellowish eggs still attached to thread-like fibers are repeatedly washed until clean. They are then air-dried on wooden racks before being rubbed several times on a stainless-steel board measuring approximately 20 × 45 cm to remove the remaining fibers. Afterward, the roe is washed again and air-dried once more. This traditional processing sequence for flying fish roe destined for export can still be observed in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

 

The roe comes from the flying fish Hirundichthys oxycephalus, harvested by fishermen from Galesong. Located about 22 km south of Makassar, this Bugis coastal community has long been recognized as one of Indonesia's most skilled flying fish roe producers. Local exporter Gassing Rafi purchases the roe directly from fishermen at prices ranging from IDR 75,000 to IDR 90,000 per kilogram.

 

Flying fish roe is considered a premium delicacy. Consumers from countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Lithuania highly appreciate its rich, savory flavor. Beyond its taste, the roe is also regarded as a prestigious food, with a culinary reputation approaching that of sturgeon caviar from the Caspian Sea.

 

According to Gassing, international demand for flying fish roe has grown remarkably. His company's annual revenue reached approximately IDR 6 billion in 2005, increased to IDR 10 billion in 2006, and doubled again to nearly IDR 20 billion in 2007. During 2007 alone, export shipments totaled around 60 metric tons. Nevertheless, global market demand was estimated to be nearly twice that amount, forcing the company to decline numerous orders due to insufficient supply.

 

Pakkaja: Traditional Roe-Harvesting Gear

 

Flying fish inhabiting the waters surrounding Sulawesi, Papua, and Flores reproduce throughout the year. However, the peak spawning season generally occurs between June and August, coinciding with the end of the southeast monsoon. During this period, upwelling events transport nutrient-rich water to the surface, stimulating abundant plankton growth that provides ideal feeding conditions. Consequently, flying fish actively seek mates and begin spawning.

 

At this time, fishermen deploy traditional spawning collectors known locally as pakkaja. A pakkaja consists of cylindrical rattan frames approximately 50 cm in diameter connected with bundles of straw. The straw serves as an artificial spawning substrate where female flying fish attach their eggs. Because the structure floats on the sea surface, fishermen can easily locate and retrieve it.

 

During periods of peak abundance, a single pakkaja unit can produce approximately 10–15 kg of roe during a three-week fishing expedition. Beginning in the early 1990s, however, many fishermen replaced pakkaja with a simpler device known as bale-bale. Although less complex in construction, bale-bale proved considerably more effective. Resembling a small floating raft with numerous closely spaced slats, it provides more attractive shelter for spawning fish, enabling fishermen to harvest approximately 30–40 kg of roe over the same fishing period.

 

Freshly harvested roe is immediately rinsed with seawater aboard the fishing vessel. The roe, still containing fibrous materials, is sun-dried on the boat roof for one to two days before being transported to collectors or exporters for further processing. There, it undergoes repeated cleaning until the fiber content is reduced to less than 20%. Finally, the product is preserved with salt and exported in frozen form.

 

Increasing Scarcity Raises Sustainability Concerns

 

In recent years, flying fish roe has become increasingly difficult to obtain. Fishermen often require several months to accumulate sufficient quantities for sale. This decline is closely associated with excessive harvesting of eggs, which disrupts the natural regeneration of flying fish populations.

 

As local resources have diminished, fishermen from Galesong have been forced to travel as far as Fakfak in West Papua Province in search of productive spawning grounds. During the spawning season, records indicate that approximately 4,400 fishermen and around 900 collector boats operate in the Fakfak area.

 

According to data from the South Sulawesi Provincial Marine and Fisheries Service, flying fish roe production in 2005 reached only about 3,300 metric tons—approximately half of the production recorded in 1977. These figures suggest that flying fish populations have experienced substantial long-term declines.

 

The future of flying fish may increasingly resemble that of sturgeon, whose caviar-producing populations have suffered severe depletion due to overexploitation. Just as strict harvesting regulations and quotas have become necessary for sturgeon conservation, implementing catch quotas and sustainable management measures for flying fish roe should also be seriously considered. Such policies are essential to ensure successful reproduction, maintain healthy wild populations, and prevent the species from facing further decline or possible local extinction.

 

Source

Trubus Magazine, July 2008.

 

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