Minister Trenggono's Ambition to Modernise 1,582 Fishing Vessels

Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, has detailed the development of the Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) programme, a priority initiative under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. The programme began with the development of Kampung Samber-Binyeri in Biak Numfor, Papua, as a pilot project in 2023. By August 2026, the programme is expected to reach 100 KNMP locations, expanding to 1,369 villages by the end of the year. The ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform to recruit 1,369 personnel to support the development of these fishing villages. The initiative aims to improve the welfare of coastal communities by leveraging their potential in fisheries and tourism, transforming them into centres of economic growth. Drawing lessons from Kampung Samber-Binyeri, the programme focuses on strengthening the fishing ecosystem through the provision of ice factories, fish collection points, and logistical supplies for going to sea, including fuel and boat repair workshops, to ensure the catch maintains export-quality standards. The ministry targets production of approximately 2.8 million tonnes from the 1,369 KNMP sites, with the villages cooperating with the Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDMP) as the off-taker for their products. Additionally, the ministry is modernising the fishing fleet with 1,369 modern vessels and 1,000 vessels of 30 gross tonnage by 2028. This modernisation is deemed necessary as 70% of current fishing boats are wooden vessels, and the upgrade is expected to increase catch volumes, improve storage, and enable environmentally friendly fishing practices. The minister also reported that total fishery protein production is projected to reach 24 million tonnes, comprising 7.5 million tonnes from capture fisheries, 5.5 million tonnes from aquaculture, and 10 million tonnes of seaweed. The ministry confirmed that fishery protein production consistently records a surplus, with exports valued at USD 6 billion against imports of USD 600 million.