Jakarta, Thekabarnews.com—The Coastal Students and Youth Association of Indonesia (KPPMPI) welcomed the results of President Prabowo Subianto’s recent trip to the UK. In particular, they welcomed the two countries’ collaboration in the marine sector. KPPMPI believes that this relationship could serve as a catalyst. In other words, it could redirect the country’s focus toward the development of marine and fisheries.

Hendra Wiguna, the chairman of KPPMPI, asserted that the maritime cooperation between Indonesia and the UK should serve as a catalyst. In particular, it should encourage policymakers to prioritize the ocean economy.

Hendra said that Indonesia’s national development goal has long ignored the maritime sector. Even though the country is the world’s largest archipelagic nation, this has been the case.

“This cooperation will become a milestone that reminds the nation that Indonesia is a maritime country with vast marine and fisheries potential,” Hendra said on Wednesday, January 28.

Hendra hoped that the alliance will make Indonesia’s marine and fisheries logistics system better. In particular, this is important when it comes to getting fishery products from eastern Indonesia and small, remote islands to big markets.

“Setting logistics ensures the management of fishing production. Such an arrangement will definitely give small-scale fishermen new hope,” he stated.

Hendra urged the government to ensure that the 1,582 fishing boats built under the collaboration plan truly meet fishermen’s needs. Additionally, he said, the boats must be usable for them.

He asserted that we should not abandon aid ships, as we did in the past, due to high operating expenses or complex technical requirements.

“We do not want to repeat past mistakes, when fishermen abandoned fishing boats because they were too difficult to operate or too expensive to run,” he added.

He also asked the government to give small fishermen who lost or had their boats damaged in natural catastrophes, especially in Aceh and Sumatra, top priority.

Hendra said fishermen could deploy some of the vessels in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or beyond. This would avoid concentrating fishing activities in traditional small-scale fishing areas.

KPPMPI also welcomed cooperation in higher education, in addition to shipbuilding. Hendra suggested building additional campuses to support the growth of Indonesia’s marine and fisheries sectors. As a result, fishermen’s and marine company owners’ children will have better access to education.

Hendra said the group envisions a future in which coastal youth operate more modern fishing boats as the next generation of fishermen. He stated that to get there, everything needs to be ready. Notably, ensuring the caliber of the people working there is crucial.

Hendra stressed that education is the key to combining the abilities of Indonesian fishermen with new technology. He says that investing in people is just as vital as investing in infrastructure.

“That is why education is so important: to ensure that technical improvement aligns with the skills of our fisherman,” he stated.

KPPMPI expects that the Indonesian government will make sure that the Indonesia-UK maritime cooperation program directly helps coastal communities and small fishermen. Furthermore, they hope it will also build up Indonesia’s long-term marine workforce.