RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono has set a target of completing 1,369 Red and White Fishermen’s Villages by the end of 2026 and expanding the number to 5,000 sites by 2029. He said the addition of 1,369 villages could significantly boost national fisheries production.

“The President has instructed us to build 5,000 sites by the end of 2029. These 1,300 sites alone are estimated to produce 2.8 million metric tons,” Minister Trenggono said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday, June 28, 2026.

One of the strategies to increase productivity, he explained, is the optimized use of modern fish storage technology. “Fishermen going to sea will be equipped with slurry ice that lasts up to three days. This ensures the fish remain of very high quality and stay fresh,” he said.

Minister Trenggono emphasized the role of Fishermen’s Village managers in ensuring that facilities are well-managed to support fishermen’s production.

He added that the government plans to install mini-processing facilities in the villages, enabling catches to be processed immediately by vacuum sealing and packaging.

The government also intends to develop fishery products into fast food items as part of efforts to strengthen the supply chain from upstream to downstream.

“These facilities can improve the quality and traceability of fishery products compared to current conditions. At present, fishermen often struggle to obtain ice, which causes the quality of their catch to deteriorate,” he said.

The establishment of Fishermen’s Villages aims not only to increase production but also to improve product quality and add economic value for coastal communities. (Gusti Panji)