By: Nadira Citra Maheswari )*
Coastal areas have been a vital pillar of the national economy for decades, particularly through the capture fisheries and aquaculture sectors. However, despite their strategic role, fishing communities often face various limitations, ranging from access to capital, minimal infrastructure, to dependence on an unfair distribution system. These conditions hinder the prosperity of fishermen, despite Indonesia’s vast marine resource potential. It is in this context that the Red and White Fishermen’s Village (KNMP) emerges as an integrated development concept that brings new hope for the revival of the coastal economy.
The KNMP is designed as a model for managing fishing areas that focuses not only on increasing fisheries production but also on strengthening the quality of life of coastal communities as a whole. This approach positions fishermen as the primary subject of development, not merely the object of policy. With integrated regional planning, the KNMP is expected to address classic coastal problems such as slums, poor sanitation, limited access to clean water, and weak supporting facilities for fisheries businesses.
The implementation of the National Mandate Program (KNMP) has begun to show tangible impacts in several coastal areas. The benefits of the KNMP, initiated by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, are beginning to be felt by coastal communities in North Maluku, particularly in Supu Village, North Loloda District, North Halmahera Regency. Nazlatan Ukhra Kasuba, Chairman of Commission I of the North Maluku Provincial DPRD, assessed that the program could be a major driver of economic growth for fishermen, while also addressing the basic needs of coastal communities who have been hampered by limited facilities. The presence of the KNMP will have a positive and sustainable impact on coastal communities.
The Red and White Fishermen’s Village concept combines economic, social, environmental, and cultural aspects within a single development framework. Economically, this program encourages increased added value of seafood through more efficient processing, storage, and distribution. Fishermen are no longer solely dependent on fresh fish sales at fluctuating prices but are being encouraged to participate in longer and more profitable supply chains. This is key to increasing the income and economic resilience of fishing households.
From a national planning perspective, the utilization of the potential wealth of marine resources is now directed in a more structured manner through the KNMP. With the presence of the KNMP, management of fishing areas is carried out in a more integrated and long-term manner. In the first phase, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is targeting the development of 65 KNMPs spread across various regions with budget support of IDR 1.34 trillion. Specifically in West Sumatra, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is establishing two KNMPs simultaneously: one in Nagari Katapiang, Padang Pariaman Regency, and one in Padang Sarai Village, Koto Tengah District, Padang City.
In terms of infrastructure, the KNMP emphasizes the importance of adequate basic facilities. The development of docks, fish auction facilities, cold storage, and road access are crucial for supporting coastal economic activity. Adequate infrastructure not only streamlines production and distribution processes but also opens up opportunities for investment and collaboration with various parties. Thus, coastal areas are no longer viewed as peripheral areas but as centers of new economic growth.
The KNMP program is also positioned as a state effort to increase the productivity and safety of fishermen in their work. Presidential Chief of Staff Muhammad Qodari emphasized that the KNMP is not merely the construction of physical facilities, but rather a concrete step to enable fishermen to work more productively, more safely, and ultimately experience improved welfare. This program is considered a strategic step in providing more adequate facilities, from boat mooring facilities, fish auctions, and support for catch storage to increase sales value and secure the livelihoods of coastal residents.
Environmental aspects are also a primary focus in the development of the Red and White Fishermen’s Village. Coastal development is inextricably linked to efforts to maintain the sustainability of marine and coastal ecosystems. This program encourages more environmentally friendly fishing practices, more orderly waste and garbage management, and the rehabilitation of coastal areas such as mangroves. Awareness of preserving the ocean as a long-term source of livelihoods is a crucial part of the social transformation expected to emerge through the KNMP.
The great hope of developing the Red and White Fishermen’s Village is the creation of a more equitable and inclusive coastal economic ecosystem. Fishermen have often been disadvantaged in the economic chain, particularly in terms of market access and pricing. Through the KNMP, fishermen’s bargaining position is strengthened with institutional support, a more transparent distribution system, and adequate supporting facilities. This institutional strengthening is a crucial foundation for sustainable coastal development.
Ultimately, the Red and White Fishermen’s Village reflects a serious effort to transform the coastal economy from a historically underdeveloped region into a center of productive and competitive growth. With an integrated approach that combines economic, social, and environmental development, the KNMP is expected to elevate the dignity of fishermen while maintaining the sustainability of marine resources. If implemented consistently and sustainably, this program has the potential to become a national coastal development model, bringing new hope for the future of Indonesia’s maritime economy.
)* The author is a Content Writer at Galaswara Digital Bureau