Relying on traditional fishing practices, the community operated in isolation.
Today, it stands as a symbol of transformation and a national model for coastal development.
Home to 160 fishermen operating 12 sampans and 93 motorboats, Samber-Binyeri’s daily catch of tuna, skipjack, and mackerel averages 100–200 kilograms per boat.
Approximately 70 percent of the fish sold at Biak Numfor’s Fandoi Fish Market—around 800 to 1,000 kilograms per day—originates from this village.
Thanks to a Rp22.1 billion investment from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Samber-Binyeri has been reborn as a modern fishing village.
New infrastructure includes a dock, ice factory, culinary center, cold storage, fish landing base, supply kiosks, and a dockyard.
Before the upgrades, fishermen earned around Rp3 million per month—below the regional minimum wage.
Since the village’s official relaunch on November 23, 2023, incomes have doubled to Rp6 million monthly.
The Samber Binyeri Maju Producers Cooperative now manages village assets and oversees business units such as the ice plant, training center, frozen storage facility, boat workshop, and supply kiosks.
The cooperative has even begun shipping fish to Java, with total shipments reaching 183.27 tons and generating Rp3.15 billion in revenue.
Inspired by Samber-Binyeri’s success, the government is scaling the model nationwide through the Red-and-White Fishing Village Program (KNMP), aiming to build 100 modern fishing villages by 2025 and 1,100 by 2028.
To qualify, villages must have at least 80 percent of residents working as fishermen and be integrated with Red-and-White Village Cooperatives.
Of Indonesia’s 12,968 coastal villages, around 1,300 already meet these criteria.
The Ministry has identified 65 locations for the first phase of development, with construction costs estimated at Rp1.34 trillion.
The remaining 35 villages will begin construction by the end of October 2025, with all 100 targeted for completion by year-end. Each village requires an estimated Rp20.6 billion.
Government support includes building production facilities such as docks, cold storage, ice factories, boat repair services, moorings, fuel stations, offices, and deploying ten 3-gross-ton vessels tailored to local needs.
These facilities will be managed by cooperatives composed of local fishermen.
100 villages this year
The 100-village KNMP initiative is projected to create 7,000 permanent jobs and 20,000 temporary construction jobs.
However, the program faces several challenges.
Key among them is the readiness of infrastructure, production facilities, and community capacity to manage operations.
Fuel availability is another critical issue, as it accounts for 60–70 percent of fishing costs, according to the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen's Union (KNTI).
To address this, the government allocates subsidized fuel annually for vessels under 30 GT, which are typically operated by small-scale fishermen.
Yet, utilization remains low—only 40–50 percent of the 2.2 million kiloliter quota has been absorbed, according to Pertamina Patra Niaga.
Limited gas station infrastructure is a major barrier. As of August 2025, only 416 stations were operational, with 88 under construction and 18 pending approval.
The permitting process is lengthy, involving multiple layers of government and taking up to 57 working days.
Moreover, many small-scale fishermen lack the administrative documentation needed to access subsidies.
A KNTI survey of 5,292 fishermen in 25 coastal regions found that nearly 70 percent lacked a fisherman’s card, 87 percent lacked vessel registration, and 74 percent lacked a small fishing permit (Pas Kecil).
Over 70 percent were unaware of how to obtain these documents.
This administrative gap prevents traditional fishermen from accessing government support, highlighting that challenges in fuel distribution extend beyond infrastructure to legal and institutional barriers.
To overcome these issues, the government must pursue strategic, integrated interventions—accelerating gas station construction, simplifying licensing, and providing administrative assistance to fishermen.
Such efforts will ensure more equitable access to subsidized fuel, enhance the effectiveness of the KNMP program, and support economic development in coastal communities.
Building a coastal economy
The Red-and-White Fishing Village Program must go beyond infrastructure—it must become a comprehensive movement for coastal economic development and community empowerment, especially for traditional fishermen who have long sustained coastal livelihoods.
Two key priorities should guide implementation.
The first is strengthening community production.
Villages are rich in economic resources like agriculture and fisheries.
Development must focus on enhancing production facilities and infrastructure to improve output quality and expand market access.
Fishermen need tangible support—fishing gear, storage facilities, fuel, and logistics—to boost productivity and competitiveness.
The second aspect is strengthening economic institutions.
Sustainable village economies require institutions that can manage and consolidate resources. Cooperatives offer a platform for small-scale fishers to strengthen their position in supply chains, manage operations, and connect with markets.
With this approach, fishing villages become hubs of independent, productive, and sustainable growth.
The KNMP must integrate physical development, economic empowerment, and human resource capacity.
If implemented consistently and with active community involvement, it can become a powerful symbol of Indonesia’s coastal transformation—fostering hope, self-reliance, and prosperity for millions of fishermen across the archipelago.
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
