Papua Barat Daya Provincial Government Agrees to Accelerate Development of Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih
Sorong (ANTARA) – The West Papua Province Government has agreed to accelerate the development of the Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) Programme in the province, in collaboration with six districts/cities, as part of efforts to raise the welfare of fishing communities in the region.
Governor Elisa Kambu of West Papua Province said during a coordination meeting with representatives from the six districts/cities on 4 March 2026 to agree on priority matters to support the programme’s rapid implementation.
‘The development of Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih in West Papua Province is expected to be realised as soon as all plans are agreed and ready to be implemented,’ he stated.
He noted that in Sorong City, the village development will use a cluster model covering several coastal areas, including Raam Island, Suprau, Boswesen, and Doom Barat.
In addition, he said, a range of supporting facilities would be provided, such as boat landings, an ice plant, cold storage warehouses, a fish auction centre, a fishermen’s training centre, and a fuel supply station for fishermen (SPBUN).
‘We hope the programme will increase productivity in the fishing sector and the welfare of fishing communities,’ he added.
Nationally, the government targets the development of 1,000 fisher villages, with at least 200 sites allocated to the Papua region by 2028.
Ady Candra, Director of Fisheries Port Affairs at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), praised the West Papua Province Government’s proactive stance in preparing the programme’s implementation. He emphasised that they are not only chasing a target number of villages but also ensuring site readiness on the ground, particularly regarding land status certainty and permitting, as well as meeting technical construction criteria.
‘If this year many sites have land that is clean, clear, and free of issues, meet the technical criteria, and have local government backing, we will promptly propose them for construction,’ he said.
He added that the Raja Ampat area is also expected to be developed as a fisheries hub that will serve as a model for developing fisher villages in surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, Absalom Solossa, head of the West Papua Province Department of Marine and Fisheries, said each KNMP location will be supported with a budget of around Rp20 billion. The funds will be used to build facilities such as boat landings, an ice plant, provision of cool boxes, a culinary hub, cold storage warehouses, a fishermen’s training centre, vessel and engine assistance, a fishermen’s workshop, and SPBUN built through a partnership with the private sector.
According to him, local government support is a crucial factor in accelerating the realisation of the programme. ‘This is a golden opportunity for the region. The main condition is that the land must be clean, clear and free and there must be full backing from the local government for legal certainty. If that is fulfilled, the KKP is ready to build,’ he said.