The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), in collaboration with the Raja Ampat Fisheries Office and the GEF-6 Coastal Fisheries Initiative (CFI) Indonesia Program, held a capacity-building training for fishers on 6–8 November 2025. The activity supports the National Red-and-White Fishing Village or Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) Program and the Makan Bergizi Gratis or Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program. The training, attended by 60 participants from Warmasen Village and surrounding areas, focused on three core pillars: business institutional strengthening, financial management, and marketing strategies for fishery products.

Group photo of Raja Ampat Vice Regent Mansyur Syahdan, WWF US GEF Agency Director Heike Lingerta, the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia PMU team, and 60 participants of the Business Institutional, Financial Management, and Marketing Technical Guidance. Raja Ampat, 6 November 2025 

Raja Ampat’s Marine Potential and Management Challenges

Raja Ampat Vice Regent Mansyur Syahdan emphasized that the region possesses immense marine wealth; however, management and marketing of fish catches remain key challenges. He stated that strengthening fishery MSMEs is essential to ensure that local products are managed professionally to improve community welfare and enhance regional economic growth. This technical guidance equips fishers with skills for modern and sustainable business management.

Raja Ampat Vice Regent Mansyur Syahdan officially opened the Business Institutional, Financial Management, and Marketing Technical Guidance. Raja Ampat, 6 November 2025 

Multiparty Collaboration to Transform Local MSMEs

The training involved local government officials, MMAF representatives, WWF US GEF Agency, and the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia PMU, underscoring the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration. Syahril Abd. Raup, Director of Fish Resource Management (PSDI) at MMAF, encouraged participants to actively learn bookkeeping, organizational structure, and marketing strategies. By combining local wisdom with modern management, fishery products from Raja Ampat are expected to reach national and international markets.

Syahril Abd. Raup, Director of Fish Resource Management (PSDI), directly observed the Business Institutional, Financial Management, and Marketing Technical Guidance. Raja Ampat, 6 November 2025 

Introducing the Sasi Label and Fisher Practice Standards

Adipati Rahmat, Project Manager of GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, introduced the Sasi Label concept to improve catch quality and fishing practices. The technical sessions covered fiber boat engine repair, use of GPS and fish finders, net maintenance, and environmentally responsible fishing techniques. CFI Indonesia also promotes post-harvest processing, packaging training, branding, and facilitation of permits (PIRT, BPOM, halal certification) to ensure nutrition and food safety standards, enabling products to enter the MBG program.

Adipati Rahmat, Project Manager of GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, delivered remarks at the Business Institutional, Financial Management, and Marketing Technical Guidance. Raja Ampat, 6 November 2025

Three Key Training Components

The capacity-building event in Raja Ampat comprised of three types of training: (i) fish-based product processing to increase their value, (ii) the use of GPS and fish finders to support safety and efficiency at sea, and (iii) ecoprint batik training as a form of creative economic diversification for coastal communities. The resulting nutritious food products—made from locally caught fish combined with local ingredients such as root crops and moringa leaves— show potential for inclusion in the MBG supply chain. At the same time, ecoprint batik shows strong prospects for becoming a signature product of Raja Ampat, supporting a tourism-driven creative economy.

The outputs of the technical guidance on nutritious food product processing — using fish caught by fishers from Red-and-White Fishing Village and combined with local ingredients such as tubers and moringa leaves — were developed under the guidance of a nutrition specialist. These products show strong potential to enter the MBG supply chain in Raja Ampat. 6–8 November 2025

Support from WWF US and MMAF

Heike Lingertat, Director of the WWF US GEF Agency, emphasized that this training is important to replicate in other locations, as it provides direct benefits to communities while supporting marine ecosystem conservation. Syahril Abd. Raup, Director of PSDI at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), reaffirmed the ministry’s full support for this initiative and encouraged broader collaboration so that KNMP can be at the forefront of community-based fisheries management.

The Raja Ampat training strengthens fishers’ capacity in managing their business, financial, and product marketing. Through MSME enhancement, Sasi Label application, and product diversification-including ecoprint batik, fishers are expected to enhance their welfare and product quality while supporting marine ecosystem sustainability and the success of KMNPs and MBG. Multiparty collaboration among local government, MMAF, GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, and WWF US is key to transforming traditional fisheries into a modern, productive, and competitive sector.