Indonesia advocates for small-scale fishers at FAO forum

At the 37th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries in Rome, Indonesia advocated for the strengthening of small-scale fishers as a core component of sustainable marine and fisheries development.

Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono noted that small-scale fishers represent approximately 90 percent of Indonesia's fishing population and are primary contributors to national capture fisheries production. To support these communities, Indonesia has implemented a National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF), making it one of only two Asian nations, alongside the Philippines, to have a formalized plan in line with FAO guidelines.

On a domestic level, the government is utilizing the Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) program to translate policy into community action. This initiative focuses on modernizing coastal villages through infrastructure development, strengthening cooperatives, improving market access, and enhancing local value chains. The government aims to establish 100 integrated marine and fisheries villages by 2025, with plans to expand to 5,000 locations by 2029.