Milkfish in High Demand Ahead of Lunar New Year: Identifying the Largest Producing Regions

Milkfish is part of the Chinese New Year celebration tradition, especially among the Chinese community in Jakarta, West Java, and surrounding areas. In ancient Chinese tradition, milkfish is part of the worship ritual during Chinese New Year.

In Indonesia, milkfish is one of the most popular types of fish among various segments of society. Based on records from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), milkfish production in Indonesia reached 330,260 tons in 2020.

East Java is the region with the largest milkfish production, reaching 94,600 tons. This is followed by South Sulawesi and Central Java, which each produced 87,400 tons and 39,160 tons, respectively.

Milkfish production in Southeast Sulawesi was recorded at 26,800 tons. Then, 15,300 tons of milkfish were produced in West Java. Meanwhile, production in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) amounted to 12,500 tons.

On Chinese New Year's Eve, Chinese people usually gather as a family at the dining table to enjoy cooked milkfish. Besides milkfish, there are also other typical Chinese New Year foods, namely Nian Gao (rice cake) and long noodles.

(Read More: List of 10 Most Expensive Aquarium Ornamental Fish in the World, Some Reaching Rp 5.7 Billion)