Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Aims to Build 1,000 Fishermen Villages This Year

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, Kebumen — The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, has targeted the construction of 1,000 Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) across Indonesia in 2026, a sharp rise from 2025’s 100 sites. He announced the plan during a visit to KNMP developments in Kebumen and Purworejo regencies, Central Java, on Thursday 5 March 2026 as part of a series of inspections of kampung nelayan projects in several regions.

Trenggono said that of the 100 kampung nelayan built in 2025, most have been completed, with around 35 sites still under construction. ‘There are still around 35 points under construction,’ Trenggono said.

For 2026, the government will scale up the programme, aiming to build 1,000 kampung nelayan simultaneously across various regions. The development focus will be primarily in eastern Indonesia, which has significant maritime potential but still requires infrastructure.

The Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih programme is an initiative by President Prabowo Subianto to strengthen the economy of coastal communities. Trenggono said that building the basic sectors is expected to boost fishermen’s productivity and stimulate economic growth. ‘This aligns with President Prabowo’s programme that the lower sectors are built. In the end, there will be growth or economic strengthening. If productivity increases, economic growth will also increase,’ he said.

Trenggono said the construction of facilities in several kampung nelayan has progressed well, although it still needs refinement. Facilities include an ice distribution site, a fish landing site, and a Fish Auction Centre (TPI) to facilitate fishermen’s activities. ‘The construction is fairly good, but there are some aspects that need to be improved so that it will be easier for fishermen to carry out activities and thus boost the coastal economy,’ he said.

Local fishermen welcomed the new facilities. One fisherman, Sodikin, said the area is now more orderly than before: ‘We are very happy to have these facilities; they are now more orderly and tidy than previously. Although it’s good, there are deficiencies that need to be added, namely motorbike parking for fishermen, a warehouse for vessel engines, and the entry/exit channels for fishermen’s boats.’