Deputy Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Didit Herdiawan Ashaf said the team's findings would help the government develop fisheries and marine resources based on each region's characteristics while maximizing economic benefits for local communities.
"We hope the Patriot Expedition Team will provide constructive recommendations and effectively map local potential," Didit said in a ministry statement on Friday.
The findings are expected to support blue economy development and improve living standards, particularly for fishers and coastal residents.
Didit said developing the blue economy is a key government strategy to spur regional economic growth while ensuring the long-term sustainability of Indonesia's marine resources.
The strategy includes modernizing the fisheries sector, expanding cold chain infrastructure, and increasing the added value of fishery products to strengthen their competitiveness in export markets.
The ministry is targeting the development of about 40,000 aquaculture sites by 2029 to balance wild capture fisheries with fish farming and promote the sustainable use of marine resources, Didit said.
The government also plans to establish 1,269 Red and White Fishing Villages this year to serve as economic hubs for coastal communities and strengthen local fisheries-based economies, he added.
The Patriot Expedition Team, organized by the Ministry of Transmigration, comprises 1,476 participants from 10 universities deployed across 53 transmigration areas. The program is funded with Rp226 billion (about US$13.9 million) from the state budget.
Beyond mapping blue economy opportunities, Didit urged participants to identify challenges in coastal development, including marine conservation, fisheries traceability, fishing fleet modernization, and the implementation of catch quotas and seasonal fishing limits.
He said the ministry is strengthening human resource capacity through education and training for fishers while expanding partnerships with universities to ensure research and innovation directly support sustainable coastal development and the economic empowerment of coastal communities.
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Translator: Aria Ananda, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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