Minister Trenggono: KNMP Management to be Run by the Merah Putih Village Cooperative

Malang, East Java — Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono stated that the Merah Putih Village Cooperative would implement the management of Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP). Trenggono spoke after inspecting KNMP development in Pujiharjo Village, Tirtoyudo District, Malang Regency, East Java, on Wednesday, noting that the ministry he leads has planned a meeting with the Ministry of Cooperatives to discuss the governance mechanism.

‘We are coordinating with the Ministry of Cooperatives. At the national level (KNMP management) is carried out by the Merah Putih Village Cooperative,’ Trenggono said.

Trenggono explained that the government-initiated fisher village development is an effort to boost productivity and welfare for every fisherman. Therefore, he emphasised that every head of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative with KNMP in their area must ensure the management is professional.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) also pledged to provide guidance on governance of Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih to the head of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative.

‘This year we plan to have 1,000 KNMP nationwide,’ he said.

Trenggono’s visit to Malang Regency is part of a series of progress checks on KNMP development in several areas of East Java. Before visiting KNMP Desa Pujiharjo in Malang, he had previously inspected Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih in Banyuwangi Regency. He has also planned similar visits to other areas in Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). ‘Next week we will look at areas in other regions, including Sulawesi,’ he said.

The inspections, he said, are aimed at ensuring the KNMP development process operates to standards, with quality, and is accessible to every fisherman in Indonesia. If problems arise in infrastructure development or other difficulties, they can promptly determine corrective actions. ‘So far the progress of KNMP Desa Pujiharjo has many things to be corrected, including clean water which is not yet available at several points. So it is not 100 percent complete but it can be used for production,’ he said.