Shrimp Head Paste Processing Boosts Women's Economy in Inanwatan

Processing shrimp heads into shrimp paste is opening up new economic opportunities for a women’s group in Inanwatan District, South Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua, whilst increasing the added value of fishery products that had previously relied solely on the sale of fresh shrimp. Through assistance from the EcoNusa Foundation since mid-2024, women’s groups in Isogo and Mate villages have begun producing shrimp paste made from shrimp heads, which is marketed as far as Sorong City in an effort to strengthen the household economies of coastal communities. Mama Siti Awakere, a resident of Isogo Village, said the income from selling shrimp paste helps meet the educational needs of her child who is attending school outside the village. “The income from fishing is not enough; if I didn’t make this, where would the money for my child’s schooling come from,” she said. She admitted she can earn around Rp300,000 together with her colleague from the sale of 15 kilogrammes of shrimp paste at the Mate Village Weigh House supported by EcoNusa. The income is used to meet family needs, including sending money to her child. A similar programme is also running in Mate Village. By early 2026, the women’s group in the village had produced more than 50 kilogrammes of shrimp paste marketed to Sorong City and several companies. “Most of it is taken to Sorong, and some is sold to companies,” said Mama Alfonsina Ginuny. The potential for business development is supported by the abundance of shrimp resources in the Inanwatan area, which has a mangrove ecosystem serving as an important habitat for various coastal biota as well as a source of livelihood for the community. In addition to teaching fishery product processing techniques, the assistance also includes business and group financial management so that production activities can take place sustainably. The utilisation of shrimp head waste into an economically valuable product is considered capable of increasing community income whilst reducing fishery waste that was previously not optimally utilised. This business development practice will be one of the examples of community economic empowerment discussed at the Papeda Summit on 2–4 September 2026 in Sorong, Southwest Papua. The forum will bring together various parties to share experiences regarding sustainable natural resource management and strengthening the economy of indigenous communities in Tanah Papua.