Trenggono Holds Independence Day Ceremony at Merah Putih Fishing Village Sorue Jaya
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono held a ceremony to commemorate the 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia together with fishermen and coastal communities at the Merah Putih Fishing Village (KNMP) in Sorue Jaya, Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, on Monday morning (17/8).
According to a written statement from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), the ceremony, themed “A Sovereign, Just and Prosperous Indonesia”, was conducted solemnly and included prayers for the people of East Nusa Tenggara affected by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake.
“After 81 years of independence, there are still fishermen who have not fully enjoyed the fruits of development and improved welfare. This is homework that we must complete,” said Trenggono.
Trenggono said that improving fishermen’s welfare must go hand in hand with strengthening the fisheries sector as a national source of protein as well as a source of livelihood for the community.
To that end, one of the KKP’s main focuses at present is delivering integrated fisheries facilities in coastal areas through the national priority programme Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP).
KNMP is directed at increasing productivity, added value and market access, and encouraging fishermen to move up the value chain.
“If farmers need irrigation to increase productivity, then fishermen need proper jetties, fish landing sites, cold chain facilities, cold storage, ice plants and other basic production facilities,” he said.
The presence of fisheries facilities at the KNMP location, such as cold storage, portable ice plants, fish landing shelters and jetties, has proven to deliver positive results for fisheries productivity there.
As many as eight tonnes of fish caught by fishermen have been sent out of town from KNMP Sorue Jaya. The fish sent were even of export quality.
Trenggono said this achievement shows that integrated infrastructure, production and market access support can increase the added value of fishery products while opening up opportunities to improve fishermen’s welfare. Moreover, 90 per cent of the residents of Sorue Jaya Village depend on the fisheries sector for their livelihoods.
“We want fishing villages to become new centres of economic growth and provide real benefits for coastal communities,” he said.
The KKP has built 100 KNMPs in 2025 and is currently building 1,269 KNMPs in 2026, with a target of reaching 5,000 fishing villages across Indonesia by the end of 2029. In addition to KNMP, the KKP’s five other priority work programmes are Village-Based Thematic Fish Farming, Revitalisation of Fish Farming on Java’s North Coast, Integrated Shrimp Farming Development, Modernisation of Fishing Vessels, and the development of a National Salt Industry Centre Area to support National Salt Self-Sufficiency.
The series of events marking the 81st Anniversary of Indonesian Independence at KNMP Sorue Jaya also included the distribution of 4,000 aid packages of fishery products and basic necessities to the community of Soropia District, as well as school supplies for 45 students of SDN Tapulaga. The activities were also coupled with the planting of 17 pule trees to green the KNMP environment, a review of an SME bazaar of marine and fishery products, and various regional arts and cultural performances involving students and fishermen’s children.