Bringing Added Value to the East

On 21 August in Ambon, the Agency for Marine and Fisheries Human Resources Development and Extension (BPPSDM KP) launched 16 Halal Clinics. This move should not be viewed merely as an administrative ceremony; the presence of these facilities for small businesses in the marine and fisheries sector is a vital step in bringing coastal products into formal markets with increasingly strict standards.

A total of 84 fisheries extension officers have been inaugurated as Halal Product Assistants, with an initial target of assisting 300 MSMEs across 16 regencies/cities in seven provinces spanning Maluku and Papua. This momentum is particularly crucial ahead of the mandatory halal certification deadline on 18 October 2026.

For micro-entrepreneurs, halal certification is more than just an administrative matter. Legality and product standard certainty serve as gateways to wider markets, including modern retail and exports. Without the ability to meet these standards, small businesses will continue to face informal markets, leaving their bargaining position relatively weak.

This issue is evident in the continued dependence of some fishermen on middlemen. Data shows that unequal economic relationships are a primary reason fishermen continue to sell their catches through such marketing chains. In this situation, downstreaming (hilirisasi) is not enough simply by building processing facilities; upstream entrepreneurs must also possess the capacity to meet product standards and access formal markets.

This is where the Halal Clinics developed by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) become significant. These facilities can be seen as part of MSME-scale downstreaming. Fish products that previously remained as fresh commodities or simple processed goods are being encouraged to obtain the legality and standards necessary to increase their added value. In essence, halal certification is not the end goal, but rather an instrument for small businesses to move from informal markets into more modern supply chains.

This approach aligns with the ‘Asta Cita’ agenda of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, particularly the strengthening of the people’s economy and the downstreaming of domestic resources. While downstreaming is often discussed in the context of mining and minerals, the marine and fisheries sector possesses immense potential for downstreaming, especially since most players operate at the micro and small business scale. The challenge, therefore, is not just how to increase production, but who will enjoy the added value from that production.

Human Resources

A similar issue is visible regarding human resources. At the same event in Ambon, BPPSDM KP inaugurated a Bridge and Engine Simulator facility at the Ambon Fisheries Training and Extension Centre. While addressing different needs, this facility shares the same goal: increasing the capacity of the marine and fisheries community in the eastern region.

The capture fisheries sector still faces challenges regarding small-scale fleets and limited monitoring. A World Bank report, ‘Ocean for Prosperity’, notes that a large portion of Indonesia’s more than 600,000 small-scale fishing vessels are unregistered and not fully monitored. Simultaneously, pressure on fish resources remains a serious concern.

Under these conditions, strengthening the competence of vessel crews is a vital part of reforming the fisheries sector. The simulator is more than just a technological facility; with modules for navigation, radar, ship manoeuvring, and engine operation, it can be used to strengthen crew competence and support certification for Fishing Vessel Nautical Officers (ANKAPIN) and Fishing Vessel Engineering Officers (ATKAPIN).

This step is strategic due to its location in Eastern Indonesia. Historically, maritime-standard training facilities have tended to be concentrated in regions that serve as economic hubs. The presence of a simulator in Ambon means that access to training and certification is brought closer to coastal communities in the eastern part of Indonesia.

This move also translates Indonesia’s obligations under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel 1995 (STCW-F), ratified through Presidential Regulation Number 18 of 2019, into concrete regional training capacity.

These two programmes in Ambon demonstrate a larger pattern. The Halal Clinics strengthen the ability of entrepreneurs to access markets, while the simulator strengthens the ability of human resources to operate fisheries activities more safely and professionally. Both address different sides of the industry but meet at a single keyword: capacity.

A similar pattern can be seen in several other KKP programmes in Eastern Indonesia. For instance, the ‘Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih’ (Red and White Fishing Village) programme aims not only to provide infrastructure for fishermen but to build an economic ecosystem through cold storage, fisherman-specific petrol stations, cooperatives, and supply chain connectivity. The initial stages of this programme have already reached several areas in Papua.

In the aquaculture sector, the government is developing an Integrated Shrimp Pond Area in Waingapu, East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, covering approximately 2,150 hectares. The area is projected to produce 52,800 tonnes of shrimp per year and employ around 7,000 workers once fully operational. The selection of East Sumba as a model location demonstrates an effort to ensure that modern aquaculture development is not solely concentrated on Java.

A similar trend is seen in the development of the National Salt Industry Centre (K-SIGN) in Rote Ndao. The development of this area is aimed at strengthening national salt production while reducing dependence on imports. Indonesia possesses a vast coastline and significant salt production potential, but has thus far not been fully able to convert this geographical advantage into economic strength.