Padang, W Sumatra - West Sumatra in 2010 begins producing a total of 15,000 milkfish per week to be produced into bait to catch tuna fish in the region`s waters, the provincial governor has said.

     "We have cultivated milkfish in Pesisir Selatan district to be produced into bait for fishermen. The milkfish was supplied from Java island," West Sumatra governor Marlis Rahman said here on Sunday, after observing the milkfish cultivation project in Carocok, Tarusan.

     The Marine and Fisheries Affairs office informed that the local fishermen need some 200 to 400 thousand of milkfish per week for bait.

     The governor said that West Sumatra has a great potential to export tuna to the United States and Japan.

     In addition, head of the provincial marine and fisheries affairs office, Yosmeri said that in the last four months West Sumatra has produced some 80 thousand milkfish in 20 hectares of breeding grounds.

     According to Yosmeri, the fish ponds will be expanded to 356 acres in Carocok, Tarusan.

     West Sumatra in 2010 has set a target of 1,500 tons of tuna exports to Europe per year, Yosmeri said, adding that last year`s tuna exports reached 733 tons.

     Thus, the cost for the fish pond development came from the State and Provincial Budgets.

    West Sumatra in 2010 has projected its tuna exports to Europe at 1,500 tons and preparations toward that end have already been started.

-Antara, 18 January 2010-