Indonesia Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries announces new industry initiatives

Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is implementing several strategic initiatives to bolster the nation's maritime sector. Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono is pushing for the global recognition of Indonesian fishing vessel crew certifications, specifically targeting markets in Portugal and Spain to expand employment opportunities for Indonesian seafarers.

To improve labor welfare, the Ministry aims to transition crew members from profit-sharing models to structured systems featuring guaranteed salaries and insurance coverage. Additionally, the government is targeting the development of 40,000 fish cultivation sites using Mini Recirculating Aquaculture System (Mini RAS) technology by 2029, a move projected to produce 1.2 million tons of fish annually and create 80,000 jobs.

On the regulatory front, Minister Trenggono addressed the illegal smuggling of lobster larvae, which is estimated to cost Indonesia approximately US$1 billion (Rp17 trillion) per year. The Ministry has tightened restrictions to ensure the economic value of these resources remains within the country.