Japan, Indonesia's KKP, and UNDP Launch "seaBLUE" Initiative to Support Coastal Communities

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As the world’s largest archipelago, Indonesia is home to over two million small-scale fishers who contribute to over 80 percent of the country’s total fisheries production, valued at US$35.7 billion and accounting for almost 3% of national GDP. Yet many of these fishers, particularly women, still face barriers that limit their productivity and resilience, from limited access to finance and training to the growing impacts of climate change and unsustainable practices. 

Recognizing these challenges, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) officially launched the Strengthening Livelihoods of Small-scale Fishers and Promoting Sustainable Local Economic Development through the Blue Economy (seaBLUE) initiative.

Funded by the Japanese Government, the program is designed to support Indonesia’s Blue Economy Roadmap 2023-2045 by introducing green technologies to small-scale fishers, investing in community-driven solutions, and building an inclusive governance to support the resilient fisheries sector.  

Didit Herdiman, Vice Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, underlined the alignment with Indonesia’s national development goals.

"This initiative reflects our commitment to building a more resilient and inclusive marine and fisheries economy by empowering small-scale fishers and strengthening their support systems. We aim to ensure that fishers, even in the most remote areas, can access low-carbon technologies, financing, training, and viable markets. Their future should no longer be clouded by uncertainty," he said in a press release. 

The launch event, held at the KKP main office in Jakarta, was attended by representatives from the KKP, other ministries supporting Indonesia’s blue economy, the Japanese Embassy, development partners, and NGOs and CSOs. The event featured a panel discussion highlighting opportunities for small-scale fisheries, including the adoption of green technologies.  

“Japan is committed to supporting Indonesia’s inclusive and sustainable development, and we are proud to collaborate on this initiative that strengthens livelihoods while safeguarding our shared marine ecosystems with KKP and UNDP. We hope that the new UNDP project will create a good synergy with Japan’s ongoing cooperation at the same project sites, Morotai and Saumlaki Islands, where JICA has recently constructed new fishery ports, markets and freezing facilities,” said Hajime Ueda, Minister of Economic Affairs and Development at the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia.  

Indonesia’s fisheries sector currently faces serious structural and environmental pressures. Nearly 96% of fishers operate on a small scale, often without access to basic infrastructure or modern equipment. Meanwhile, the sector contributes significantly to marine-based emissions, with shipping activities—including those from traditional boats—accounting for nearly 19 percent of the country’s CO output. Without bold interventions, the long-term health of marine ecosystems and the livelihoods they support remain at risk. 

At the heart of the initiative is a commitment to deliver real, practical change. The program will provide targeted training and economic diversification support for 500 small-scale fishers, particularly women, helping build more stable incomes. To reduce post-harvest losses and lower carbon emissions, the project will also pilot the use of electric boats and solar-powered cooler boxes and cold storage. These innovations aim to make the value chain more efficient while easing the sector’s environmental footprint. 

SeaBLUE also supports the broader vision of President Prabowo Subianto, who has emphasized the marine sector’s role in strengthening rural development and national food security.

By combining climate-smart technologies with local capacity-building, the initiative demonstrates that inclusive development and sustainability can go hand in hand. In doing so, seaBLUE is set to directly benefit 1,600 individuals—at least 30 percent of whom are women—and indirectly reach approximately 8,000 community members. 

“We believe in the power of ingenuity and optimism of the coastal communities in Indonesia. Through seaBLUE, we are investing not only in technology but in people, especially women, who are the backbone of our fisheries sector,” said Ms. Sujala Pant, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Indonesia.  

To ensure increased access to public services, seaBLUE will also promote the broader use of the Marine and Fisheries Business Actor Card (KUSUKA) digital identification platform, enabling small-scale fishers to benefit from insurance, credit, training, and government subsidies. The project targets 1,500 new registrations and includes training for at least 100 government officials to improve data quality and engagement at the local level. 

Initial implementation of the project will take place in Morotai (North Maluku Province) and Tanimbar (Maluku Province), two remote island regencies where coastal communities face limited access to infrastructure, technology, and public services that support sustainable fisheries. These locations were selected in consideration of ongoing efforts to promote a sustainable and inclusive fishery sector by KKP, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and UNDP.  

SeaBLUE builds on more than a decade of collaboration between UNDP and KKP, including the two phases of the Arafura and Timor Seas Ecosystem Action (ATSEA) programme. It also builds on JICA’s support for infrastructure development in Morotai and Tanimbar, while incorporating practical lessons from Japan in areas such as technology and community-based fisheries management. These inputs aim to strengthen Indonesia’s efforts toward more sustainable and inclusive marine resource management.  

I Nyoman Radiarta, Head of the Human Resources Development and Extension Agency for Marine and Fisheries (BPPSDM KP), highlighted the importance of building small-scale fishers’ capacities as a cornerstone of Indonesia’s sustainable blue economy. 

“As an institution focused on developing marine and fisheries human resources, we see this program as an opportunity to enhance fishers’ skills, improve access to eco-friendly technologies, and strengthen institutional support. In collaboration with UNDP and Japan, the initiative not only improves livelihoods but also supports the shift to more sustainable and climate-resilient fishing practices—laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and globally competitive blue economy,” said Nyoman. 

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