KKP Promotes Healthy Lifestyle Implementation with 'Fish for Fit'

The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is promoting a healthy lifestyle among the public through the ‘Fish for Fit’ campaign, which aims to position fishery products as a nutritional intake. The inaugural action of the ‘Fish for Fit’ campaign was launched by KKP in collaboration with the Body Fit team, holding a hybrid competition in Jakarta, attended by 30 pairs of participants from the fitness enthusiast community.

A hybrid competition combines strength, endurance, and training strategy, capitalising on the euphoria of performance-based sports like the increasingly popular HYROX among urban youth. The 30 pairs of participants demonstrated their strength and teamwork in the event.

Special Staff to the Minister of KKP for Public Relations and Communications, Doni Ismanto Darwin, stated that in recent years, the lifestyle landscape of Indonesia’s youth has undergone a noticeable shift, with more of this group choosing to wake up early for runs, spend time at gyms, or attend exercise classes.

“Exercise is only one aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Nutritional intake forms the primary foundation that determines the results of every physical activity. An active body requires a balance between carbohydrates as an energy source, fats as reserves and regulators, and protein as the main component for muscle building and recovery,” Doni explained in a written statement on Sunday (19/4/2026).

“Without proper nutritional intake, physical activities will not yield optimal results. In every 100 grams serving, these fish contain around 20 grams of protein, making them an ideal choice to meet daily protein needs,” he continued.

He noted that in this context, protein plays a very important role. Unfortunately, discussions about protein in public forums are often dominated by certain sources, such as red meat, chicken, or instant protein supplements.

“However, Indonesia has an abundant, high-quality, and more body-friendly natural protein source, namely fish,” Doni said.

Doni explained that fish is a source of protein with high biological quality that is easily absorbed by the body, with lower saturated fat content compared to red meat. The omega-3 fatty acid content in fish plays an important role in maintaining heart health, reducing inflammation, and supporting brain function.

“All of this is nutrition greatly needed by individuals who exercise actively to accelerate muscle recovery and maintain body performance,” he stated.

Another advantage of fish lies in its processing flexibility. Fish is highly adaptable to modern healthy lifestyles: it can be grilled, steamed, or lightly stir-fried with minimal oil to preserve its nutritional content. Menus like grilled tuna, pepes ikan, or clear fish soup are simple examples of how fish can be integrated into daily eating patterns without losing flavour.

The public is no longer just eating to fill up but is beginning to consider nutritional value, nutrient composition, and its long-term impact on health. In this new landscape, fish has all the prerequisites to become the top choice: highly nutritious, easy to prepare, affordable, and sustainable.

“‘Fish for Fit’ is not just a communication message but also a real activation. If exercise has become a lifestyle, then it’s time for fish to become our new standard protein source,” Doni said.

“Not just a healthy choice, but the foundation for a stronger, more productive, and more competitive Indonesian generation. Let’s eat fish!” he added.

A variety of high-protein fishery products were also exhibited at the competition area, from tilapia processed products to fillets such as tuna, snapper, and grouper.

All were introduced comprehensively with preparation methods and nutritional content. Participants could also directly taste crispy tilapia products.

“The high enthusiasm of the participants shows that the collaboration between sports and nutrition education based on fishery products has its own appeal and is relevant to current lifestyle trends,” stated Director of Marketing at the Directorate General of Competitiveness Enhancement for Marine and Fishery Products (PDSPKP) KKP, Erwin Dwiyana.

This event, Erwin continued, aims to increase public awareness, especially among sports enthusiasts, about the importance of fish protein as a superior nutritional source that supports muscle growth and recovery.

“Additionally, this serves as an effective promotional medium to expand market access, particularly in the premium segment,” Erwin revealed.

Data shows that Indonesia’s fish consumption reached more than 26.04 kilograms per capita per year in 2025. This figure indicates a positive trend but still has room for further improvement to support food security and national nutrition fulfilment.

One participant, Fina Phillipe, expressed her enthusiasm for joining ‘Fish for Fit’ because the competition not only requires strength and team cohesion but also strategy. The participants generally have strong physical abilities, motivating her to give her best in every competition session.

“The event was really fun, and the participants were serious and very competitive. This is perfect for me heading into my next competition,” Fina said.

Fina added that she gained a lot of education about fishery products during the event. Previously, Fina was a big fan of tuna for meeting her protein needs.

“For my protein needs, I always consume tuna. There was also education about tilapia, which turns out to have really high protein too,” Fina said.

“This is really cool,” she added.

For information, the ‘Fish for Fit’ hybrid race competition series was supported by sponsors including Regal Springs Indonesia, PT Intimas Surya, PT Harta Samudera, and PT Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk.