Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia advocated strengthening small-scale fishers as a vital element of sustainable marine and fisheries development at the 37th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in Rome, Italy.
Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said the global commitment to supporting small-scale fishing communities must be backed by policies and actionable programs that deliver direct and tangible benefits.
“As the world’s largest archipelagic nation, Indonesia remains fully committed to sustainable fisheries that protect the ocean, strengthen food security, and improve the welfare of fishing communities,” Trenggono said in an official statement on Thursday (September 10).
Trenggono highlighted that small-scale fishers account for roughly 90 percent of Indonesia’s fishing population and contribute the bulk of national capture fisheries production. To protect these fishers, Indonesia has established a National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF) in line with the FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines.
Indonesia and the Philippines are currently the only Asian countries to have formalized such action plans.
Speaking at the forum, Trenggono detailed how national policy is translated into local initiatives through the Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) program as a practical model for community-level intervention.
The initiative aims to modernize coastal villages by developing essential infrastructure, strengthening local cooperatives, expanding market access, and developing local value chains.
“KNMP is an example of how Indonesia’s commitment to small-scale fisheries is translated from national policy into concrete action at the community level,” he said.
The Indonesian government established 100 integrated marine and fisheries villages by 2025 and plans to expand the initiative to 5,000 locations nationwide by 2029.
In closing, Trenggono commended the FAO’s Blue Transformation agenda, saying it aligns with Indonesia’s broader blue economy policy to balance environmental sustainability, food security, and community welfare.
Indonesia urged FAO member states to move beyond abstract policy commitments and focus on programs that directly strengthen coastal livelihoods while safeguarding marine ecosystems.
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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Yashinta Difa
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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