Antara News·Indonesia·Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 02:37 PM

MBG to serve fish menu twice a week: Ministry

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Zuhdiar, Kenzu

Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Didit Herdiawan Ashaf said fish will become a mandatory menu item in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme at least twice a week.

"It is just the starting and it will be implemented gradually. Implementation will be carried out soon," Ashaf said here on Wednesday.

Fish has been a mandatory menu item in the MBG programme once a week, however it has now been increased into twice a week.

Ashaf made the statement during a socialisation event on Presidential Regulation Number 74 of 2026 concerning the Movement to Popularise Fish Consumption (Gemarikan) in Semarang, Central Java.

In line with the presidential regulation, the fish-eating movement will not be carried out unilaterally, but will involve various sectors and programmes, such as MBG.

According to him, eating fish is highly beneficial because fish contains high protein that can help prevent stunting. Ashaf added fish protein is much cheaper than chicken or beef and is also easier to obtain.

"Our sustainable (fish resource potential) is around 12-13 million tons. With that kind of condition, the fish-eating campaign can be carried out," he said.

He said that once the MBG programme with fish menus is running, students' protein intake at school will increase and they will be healthier.

Meanwhile, Deputy Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, said that as a maritime nation, Indonesia has great fisheries resource potential.

"We have still relied on nutrition from the land. Yet, two-thirds of our territory is sea. On land, some of our food is still imported, whereas at sea, there is no need to import," Nurofiq said.

In line with the Gemarikan movement, he said fish consumption is targeted to reach 26.83 kilograms per capita per year by 2029.

"This figure is quite significant and must be achieved amid aquaculture production there. For Central Java, we already have high hopes," Nurofiq said.

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