Mayor of Kupang Proposes Two Fishing Villages as Ministry’s Priorities

RRI.CO.ID, Kupang – Kupang Mayor, Christian Widodo, proposed two locations to be included in the Red and White Fishing Village program. This proposal was submitted directly to the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Governor's Office on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The two proposed areas are Lasiana Village and Oesapa Village. Both have been declared to have met the administrative and technical verification requirements by the relevant ministry team.

The Mayor hopes that this proposal will immediately receive full support from the central government. “We request that this be made a priority. All requirements are ready, all that is needed is support for acceleration,” the Mayor stated.

Lasiana Village has great potential with 900 fishermen and an area of 9.3 hectares. Fish production in this area is estimated to reach 350 tons annually.

Coastal area development is considered an important step to ensure the future of the residents. “We believe that developing the coast means building the future. The sea is the source of life, so fishermen must be a priority for welfare,” he said.

The Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, immediately responded positively to the proposal. He instructed his staff to immediately follow up on the development plan for the location.

The minister emphasized that the main focus of this program is to improve the standard of living of the community. “The target is not just physical development, but the welfare of the community. Coastal areas must become centers of sustainable fisheries production and industry,” he said.

Currently, there are seven similar locations that have been built in the NTT region. The government plans to expand the scope of this program in 2026.

In addition to fishing villages, the central government is also encouraging the development of the salt industry in NTT. The target is for Indonesia to no longer import salt by the end of 2027.