A conception on the use of irradiation for preserving fishery commodities in Indonesia. Fishery production is still very possible to be increased, either for increasing local consumption or for export, and for reducing importation of fishery products. Increase of production must be followed by the improvement of postharvest treatment to improve the quality and to protect the freshness of the commodity, so that the quality and the price can compete either in local or foreign markets. Preservation by irradiation has a good prospect if it is economical, since it can be applied for several kinds of fishery products. Implementation of this process needs legal clearance and regulations. It has been proved that any food irradiated at an average absorbed dose of up to 10 kGy is safe for human consumption. An integrated study is needed to evaluate the technological and socio-economic feasibility of the irradiation process. Burhanuddin Lubis *Direktorat Bina Produksi, Direktorat lenderal Perikanan.
