Strengthening Chitin and Chitosan Downstreaming to Enhance Indonesia Fisheries Export Competitiveness

Abstract

Indonesia has substantial potential to develop a downstream chitin and chitosan industry because shrimp-processing activities generate shell by-products that can be converted into higher-value biomaterials. However, the utilization of these by-products for industrial chitin and chitosan remains constrained by fragmented raw-material supply, limited commercialization of research and technology, inadequate standardization and quality assurance, limited industrial capacity, and weak institutional coordination. This study aims to assess the current status of downstream chitin and chitosan development in Indonesia, identify the structural factors constraining value-chain development, analyze policy gaps, and formulate a phased policy roadmap. A qualitative descriptive approach was applied using secondary data from regulations, policy documents, official statistics, scientific publications, and institutional reports. The analysis consisted of current-status assessment, root-cause analysis, problem prioritization, policy-gap analysis, policy-alternative assessment, and roadmap formulation. The findings indicate that the principal constraint is not the availability of shrimp-shell resources but the weak integration of the downstream value chain. A four-phase roadmap is proposed covering governance and value-chain integration, industrial development and technology commercialization, international competitiveness, and innovation and sustainability. The framework provides a policy basis for increasing value added and strengthening fisheries export competitiveness through circular utilization of fisheries by-products.performance