KKP and WRI Indonesia Introduce Ocean Calculator Technology
The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) together with the World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia introduced the Ocean Calculator during an Introduction and Technical Workshop event in Jakarta on Thursday, 25 June 2026, coinciding with World Oceans Day. The platform has been developed since 2024 by WRI Indonesia alongside several universities in Indonesia and Australia, with support from the Australian Government through the KONEKSI programme.
The Ocean Calculator is a geospatial platform based on Ocean Resource Balance Sheets (NSDL) designed to calculate the economic value of marine and coastal ecosystems quickly, accurately, and based on scientific data. This geospatial platform is expected to become an important instrument in supporting more measurable, sustainable, and evidence-based marine policy.
Director General of Marine Management at KKP, Koswara, stated that the Ocean Calculator represents a strategic step in strengthening credible and comprehensive data-based ocean and coastal governance. “The Ocean Calculator is an important foundation in supporting more targeted decision-making,” he said. Koswara hopes the platform will continue to develop and become part of strengthening evidence-based marine policy, “so that the economic, social, and ecological benefits of marine resources can be managed optimally.”
The Ocean Calculator was developed as part of efforts to build ocean accounting or Ocean Resource Balance Sheets (NSDL), a system that integrates environmental and economic information to support sustainable marine development planning. Through the use of geospatial technology, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the platform can identify the extent, condition, and changes in coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs. Additionally, the Ocean Calculator can calculate various ecosystem services produced, ranging from coastal protection and blue carbon storage to the economic value received by communities.
Another advantage of the platform is the integration of Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) aspects, which allows users to understand the relationship between ecosystem conditions and community groups dependent on marine resources. This approach helps ensure that coastal development proceeds more fairly, inclusively, and provides equitable benefits.
A representative from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Jacqui Lord, appreciated the collaboration between KKP, WRI Indonesia, and academic partners in developing the Ocean Calculator. “With increasing pressure on coastal areas due to climate change and human activities, instruments capable of assessing ecosystem benefits more comprehensively are needed. We hope the Ocean Calculator can become an effective tool to support sustainable ocean and coastal management in Indonesia,” she said.
Director of Ecosystem Conservation at KKP, Firdaus Agung, explained that the ministry has been involved since the early stages of the platform’s development. “Since February 2026, KKP has been involved in the initial trials of the Ocean Calculator, and it is now integrated with SIDAKO and accessible to the public via the sidako.kkp.go.id page as a home for various ecosystem conservation data in Indonesia,” Firdaus said. According to him, in addition to supporting ocean accounting, the Ocean Calculator also helps various stakeholders understand the strategic value of marine ecosystems and their contribution to environmental sustainability, community welfare, and economic activities in coastal areas.
Meanwhile, WRI Indonesia Country Director Nirarta Samadhi assessed that the development of Indonesia’s marine sector requires instruments capable of revealing the true value of marine ecosystems, which has not been fully reflected in decision-making processes. Through the Ocean Calculator, the government, academics, communities, and the private sector can obtain more comprehensive information to support sustainable coastal investment and development.
Previously, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono emphasised that ocean management must be based on data and science so that economic growth can proceed in tandem with environmental sustainability. The presence of the Ocean Calculator is a concrete step by KKP to strengthen modern, measurable, and sustainable ocean governance in order to realise Indonesia’s blue economy.