The Emergence of New Economic Sources for Fishermen on the Coast of Kundur Island
From a village that previously relied solely on marine resources, there is now growing confidence that the future can be built together through knowledge, mutual cooperation, and the courage to utilise potentials that have long been overlooked.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - It is natural for fishermen to live off the sea. Unfortunately, the sea is often unpredictable. Nevertheless, in many fishing villages across Indonesia, the sea is not only a living space but also a determinant of fate.
When the weather is favourable, income arrives with the catch. However, when waves are high and winds shift direction, many families must face the reality that their earnings cease.
Such situations have persisted for a long time in various coastal villages, shaping an economic pattern that is highly dependent on a single source of livelihood.
Therefore, when a fishing village begins to boldly build alternative economic sources from potentials that have long been neglected, that story becomes important as inspiration.
Such changes are starting to appear in Desa Sawang Laut, Pulau Kundur, Riau Islands. Coastal land that was previously abandoned is slowly transforming into a productive space that brings new hope to the community.
Through a community group named Tuah Bersatu, residents are beginning to build joint enterprises that do not solely rely on the sea but also on their ability to manage village potentials more broadly and sustainably.
The head of the Tuah Bersatu group, Amran, recounts that the idea was born from a simple concern felt by many fishermen. For years, their lives followed the same pattern.
After going to sea, economic activities stopped. There were no additional income sources to support family needs when catches declined. From there emerged the awareness that the village needed alternative enterprises that still suited the local environmental conditions.
That awareness then drove the group to utilise empty land in the coastal area for white snapper aquaculture in 2022.
The programme began operating actively from 2023 and developed gradually according to the group’s readiness. Interestingly, business development was done step by step and without haste.
After white snapper aquaculture was running, the group began developing hydroponics, shrimp paste production, egg-laying chicken farming, and preparations for a waste bank.
The steps taken by Tuah Bersatu show that village economic development does not always have to start from large projects. Change often arises from the courage to utilise small spaces that were previously considered worthless.