By: Segara Budi Wijaya*
Indonesia has been known for decades as the world’s largest maritime nation, but the irony is that coastal communities and fishermen have not fully enjoyed the substantial benefits of the nation’s marine wealth. Therefore, the government’s move under President Prabowo Subianto to strengthen the marine sector through the Red and White Fishing Village (KNMP) program should be seen as a strategic effort to build the foundation of a sustainable marine economy based on public welfare.
President Prabowo’s visit to the Red and White Fishing Village in South Leato, Gorontalo City, on May 9, 2026, served as a strong symbol that coastal development is now a key national development agenda. On that occasion, the President emphasized that the blue ocean economy concept will be the main direction for the development of Indonesia’s marine sector.
President Prabowo also emphasized that the government will undertake large-scale development of the fisheries and marine sector through a blue economy approach. In his view, the marine sector must become one of the main engines of national economic growth while strengthening Indonesia’s position as an independent and sovereign maritime nation.
The government’s commitment is increasingly evident through the plan to build 1,582 fishing vessels, which will be managed through fishermen’s cooperatives. This policy demonstrates a transformation in the country’s approach to the fisheries sector. Many Indonesian fishermen have faced limited fleets, limited access to financing, and a weak catch distribution chain.
As a result, the national marine economic value is primarily enjoyed by outsiders or large, well-capitalized players. Through fishermen’s cooperatives, the government is building a collective economic model to provide small-scale fishermen with access to production tools, strengthen their bargaining position, and ensure business sustainability.
The Head of State also emphasized that fishermen must be the primary actors in utilizing national marine resources. The government wants to ensure that Indonesia’s marine wealth is utilized optimally for the welfare of the people, rather than being dominated by foreign parties. In this context, strengthening fishing villages is a crucial part of the government’s broader efforts to build national economic independence.
In this context, the Red and White Fishermen’s Village is not simply a coastal infrastructure project. It is a grand plan to create new centers of economic growth in coastal areas. Facilities such as ice factories, cold storage, ship docks, fish landing shelters, and supply kiosks demonstrate that the government is beginning to develop a fishing industry ecosystem from upstream to downstream.
Trian Yunanda, Head of the Coordinating Team for the Implementation of the KNMP Development Phase I and II, stated that the first phase of construction of the KNMP at 65 locations was 100% complete by the end of April 2026. He stated that the government is now focused on ensuring that all facilities can immediately operate optimally to truly support the economic activities of fishing communities. He also emphasized that the KNMP Operational Task Force was formed to ensure effective, systematic, and sustainable management of the area, in line with the program’s development objectives.
The presence of modern storage facilities allows the catch to maintain high quality, thus increasing its market value. This way, fishermen are no longer dependent on middlemen or selling their fish at low prices due to limited storage. This step is also in line with the vision of increasing national fishery product exports, which have faced challenges in quality standards and distribution efficiency.
The government’s actions are also relevant to the current global situation. The world is facing the threat of a food crisis, climate change, and international economic uncertainty. In these conditions, the maritime sector is a highly potential source of economic resilience for Indonesia.
This country, with the second-longest coastline in the world, boasts abundant fish resources, strategic trade routes, and millions of workers in the coastal sector. Therefore, strengthening fishing villages is truly a long-term investment to strengthen national food security while maintaining regional economic stability.
Data from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries shows that the first phase of 65 Red and White Fishing Villages had been completed by April 2026. This represents a significant initial step towards establishing new maritime-based economic centers across Indonesia.
The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, emphasized that the government is not only building physical facilities but also providing skills training, outreach, and capital financing support through the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries’ Public Service Agency (LPMUKP) this approach is crucial so that fishing communities are not merely recipients of aid, but are empowered to become independent and professional key players in the coastal economy.
Furthermore, the development of the Red and White Fishermen’s Village also has a significant social impact. Coastal areas have long been synonymous with structural poverty, limited access to education, and economic vulnerability due to weather and fluctuating catches. By modernizing fishing areas, the government is building new hope that the younger generation of coastal communities will see the fishing sector as a promising and dignified profession.
Ultimately, building fishing villages means building Indonesia’s future as a truly maritime nation. The sea is not just a geographical space, but a source of life, prosperity, and national sovereignty. As fishermen prosper, the foundation of Indonesia’s sustainable maritime economy will become stronger.
)*The author is a maritime economics observer