Natuna Government Says Cemaga Utara KNMP Development 96 Percent Complete

The Natuna Regency Government, Riau Islands Province, has recorded that the construction progress of the Merah Putih Fishermen’s Village (KNMP) in Cemaga Utara Village has reached 96 percent. Natuna Regent Cen Sui Lan stated on Saturday that she, along with the Brebes Regent and officials from the Natuna Fisheries Service, had inspected the KNMP development in Cemaga Utara Village. During the visit, she received an explanation that the KNMP in Cemaga Utara is being developed with a fisheries activity hub concept to support the economic activities of coastal communities. The area is equipped with various supporting facilities, including an ice factory, cold storage, a culinary area, a boat and fishing gear repair workshop, a canteen, and a management office. “The available facilities are the government’s effort to encourage the economic growth of fishing communities,” she said. She explained that the KNMP development is a central government programme proposed by the Natuna Regency Government. In the 2025 proposal, only the location in Cemaga Utara was approved for construction in 2026. Meanwhile, in 2026 the local government submitted proposals for KNMP development in several other locations, and 17 sites have received approval. “For the KNMP in Cemaga Utara, it is estimated to be completed by the end of July as only the final finishing work remains,” she said. In addition to the development of the fishing village, Cen also highlighted the need for larger fishing vessels. Based on local government data, the majority of fishing boats in Natuna are still around two gross tonnes in size, which is considered insufficient to optimise the region’s abundant fishery resources. Therefore, the Natuna Regency Government will propose assistance for larger capacity vessels to the central government, given the limited capacity of the regional budget. “Going forward, we will continue to seek assistance for larger boats so that Natuna fishermen can increase their catch and become more competitive,” Cen said.