Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is aiming to establish 100 Modern Fishermen Villages called “Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih,” in 2025 as part of a nationwide initiative to boost coastal community welfare and strengthen the country’s maritime economy.
“The ministry is targeting the development of 100 Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih next year,” said Trian Yunanda, Senior Advisor to the Minister for Economic, Social, and Cultural Affairs, during a press briefing in Jakarta on Monday (May 26).
The program, will transform traditional fishing and aquaculture villages into more productive and integrated hubs capable of producing competitive fishery products. One model site is the coastal village of Samber-Binyeri in Biak Numfor, Papua.
“This is a transformation initiative, building on the Modern Fishermen’s Village program introduced by Minister Trenggono. It’s aimed at improving fishermen’s livelihoods. We must ensure selected locations meet the criteria, especially in terms of available land,” he said.
Eligible locations must have over 80% of residents engaged in fishing or aquaculture, a minimum of one hectare of clean and uncontested land for facility development, potential for fisheries, aquaculture, and marine tourism, and be integrated with the local Red and White Village Cooperative.
The KKP is working closely with regional governments to identify suitable sites and ensure strong local support and smooth implementation. The initiative focuses on long-term sustainability and modernizing traditional fishing communities.
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Facilities planned for each selected modern fishermen villages include docks, cold storage, training centers, ice plants, culinary centers, lookout towers, boat docks, fish auction halls with drainage and wastewater systems, and office buildings.
“We want to replicate the success seen in Biak, Papua. The program will revolve around the Red and White Village Cooperative, which will serve as the backbone of all economic activity,” Trian added.
The ministry recently surveyed several potential sites in Batam, Riau Islands, including Kampung Tua Bagan, Tanjung Banon, and Belakang Padang fishing villages located above sea level. “We’re evaluating whether construction is possible under existing regulations,” he said.
Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono previously stated that the Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih program is a directive from President Prabowo Subianto to enhance productivity and living standards in coastal communities. The broader government target is the development of 1,100 such villages across Indonesia.
(Raidi/Agung)
