Indonesia has firmly positioned itself at the forefront of the global movement to champion small-scale fisheries, presenting its comprehensive national strategy during the 37th session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in Rome, Italy. Represented by Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, the Indonesian delegation underscored the critical intersection of environmental stewardship, food security, and the socio-economic elevation of millions of coastal citizens. This strategic pivot aligns with the United Nations’ broader goals for sustainable development, specifically targeting the empowerment of the grassroots fishing sector that serves as the backbone of the national economy.
The Strategic Importance of Small-Scale Fisheries in Indonesia
As the world’s largest archipelagic nation, Indonesia possesses a marine jurisdiction that is as complex as it is vast. With a coastline stretching over 108,000 kilometers and a marine area encompassing millions of square kilometers, the management of aquatic resources is not merely an environmental concern but a primary pillar of national security and economic stability.
Statistical data from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries indicates that approximately 90% of Indonesia’s fishing workforce operates within the small-scale category. These artisanal fishers, who typically operate vessels under 10 gross tonnage, are the primary providers of domestic animal protein. Despite their significant contribution to the national catch, these communities have historically faced systemic challenges, including limited access to capital, lack of cold-chain infrastructure, and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. The Indonesian government’s recent policy shift aims to mitigate these disparities by integrating small-scale fisheries into the formal national economic framework, moving away from subsistence models toward sustainable, value-added commercial operations.
Chronology of the Commitment: From Policy to Global Arena
The path to the 37th COFI session in September 2026 was paved by years of meticulous policy development. The timeline of this transformation reflects a deliberate, phased approach:
- 2023–2024: The Indonesian government began aligning national regulations with the FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines).
- Early 2025: Indonesia finalized the National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF), becoming one of the few nations globally—and a pioneer in the Asian region alongside the Philippines—to institutionalize these guidelines.
- 2025 (Year-End): The inaugural phase of the Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) program saw the establishment of 100 model villages, serving as testing grounds for integrated infrastructure and cooperative management.
- September 6, 2026: Indonesia presented its progress at the Small-Scale Fisheries Summit in Rome, receiving commendations from international NGOs and fellow member states for its proactive governance.
- September 7, 2026: Minister Trenggono officially delivered Indonesia’s commitment statement at the 37th COFI session, advocating for the global scaling of the Blue Transformation agenda.
The Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) Model
Central to Indonesia’s success is the Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (Red and White Fishing Village) program. Far from being a mere aesthetic improvement, the KNMP is a holistic development strategy. It addresses the "triple bottom line" of sustainability: social equity, economic viability, and environmental preservation.
Under this model, the government provides comprehensive support, starting with physical infrastructure—such as clean water access, sanitary facilities, and standardized fish processing areas—to improve the quality of life for families in coastal areas. More importantly, the program facilitates institutional strengthening by forming or revitalizing local fishing cooperatives. These cooperatives allow fishers to pool resources, negotiate better market prices, and gain access to credit facilities that were previously out of reach.
The scale of the project is ambitious. With 100 villages successfully established by the end of 2025, the Ministry has set a target to expand this to 5,000 villages by 2029. This rapid scaling is designed to create a national network of empowered communities capable of participating in both regional and international seafood supply chains, thereby increasing the resilience of the rural economy.
Alignment with FAO’s Blue Transformation Agenda
During the COFI summit, Minister Trenggono highlighted the synergy between Indonesia’s "Blue Economy" policy and the FAO’s "Blue Transformation" agenda. The FAO’s initiative focuses on the sustainable expansion and intensification of aquatic food systems, which is essential to meet the needs of a growing global population while simultaneously restoring degraded ecosystems.
Indonesia’s approach serves as a tangible blueprint for this transformation. By integrating small-scale fishers into a data-driven, sustainable management system, the country is demonstrating that economic growth does not necessitate the depletion of marine biodiversity. "Indonesia’s experience is not just for our own benefit; it is a scalable lesson for the world," Trenggono stated. "We have proven that policy can be translated into tangible results that empower the individual fisher while preserving the ocean for future generations."
Economic and Social Implications: A Fact-Based Analysis
The transition of small-scale fisheries into a structured, sustainable sector carries profound implications for the Indonesian economy. Firstly, the formalization of these fishers allows for better data collection. Accurate data on catch volumes, species composition, and effort levels are vital for setting total allowable catch limits, which in turn prevents overfishing and ensures the longevity of fish stocks.
Secondly, the emphasis on the "value chain" rather than just the "catch" is a crucial economic shift. By providing cold-chain technology and direct access to markets, the government is reducing the "middleman effect," ensuring that a higher percentage of profit remains in the hands of the fishing communities. This has a direct impact on poverty reduction in coastal regions, which have traditionally been the poorest areas in Indonesia.
However, the implementation of such a massive program is not without challenges. Experts point to the need for continuous monitoring, evaluation, and the mitigation of potential environmental impacts associated with the development of village infrastructure. Furthermore, the success of the 5,000-village target by 2029 will depend heavily on inter-ministerial cooperation and the sustained involvement of private sector investment in the blue economy.
Global Reactions and Future Outlook
The international community, particularly at the 37th COFI session, has noted Indonesia’s dual focus on national welfare and international environmental standards. By actively participating in the FAO’s global governance frameworks, Indonesia is not only receiving guidance but also contributing to the global body of knowledge regarding sustainable small-scale fisheries management.
The consensus among observers is that Indonesia’s NPOA-SSF is a robust document that provides a clear roadmap for other developing nations. If Indonesia successfully meets its 2029 target, it will likely provide one of the most comprehensive datasets on the effectiveness of village-level development interventions in marine resource management.
As the session concluded, the Indonesian delegation reiterated that the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—a major component of the Blue Economy—is intrinsically linked to the empowerment of small-scale fishers. By providing these communities with legal recognition and economic security, they are empowered to become the primary guardians of their local waters, effectively acting as the first line of defense against unsustainable and illegal practices.
In the broader context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Indonesia’s commitment to its small-scale fishers represents a sophisticated, modern approach to the classic challenge of balancing human development with environmental conservation. By bridging the gap between high-level international policy and the daily realities of life in a fishing village, Indonesia is not only securing its own maritime future but is also setting a precedent for how coastal nations can navigate the complexities of the 21st-century blue economy.
