Five years ago, Morotai Island went viral for a tragic reason: around 2 tons of tuna were buried in the ground. The haunting images that spread across social media told a story not of a natural disaster, but of an economic one. A local company had refused to buy the fish, and with no ice or cold storage available, the catch spoiled in the tropical heat. It was a devastating blow to local fishers, who could only watch as their hard work quite literally went to waste.

That mass burial of tuna in Sangowo Village became a symbol of a deeper challenge faced by coastal communities in Indonesia’s outer islands: the fragile supply chain that keeps their livelihoods afloat. For Morotai’s fishers, the lack of ice is not a one-time problem, it is a recurring obstacle that threatens income, food security, and community resilience.

When the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s seaBLUE team visited Sangowo earlier this year along with researchers from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the story still lived vividly in people’s memories. "We once buried tons of tuna,” one woman recalled quietly. A fisherman added, “All the fish were spoiled because there was no ice. Ice is indeed a problem.” Their words echoed a simple truth: without ice, there is no cold chain, and without a cold chain, the promise of the sea can quickly turn into loss.

The science behind this is straightforward but unforgiving. Tuna, prized for its texture and color, must be kept at a very low temperature immediately after being caught. Without sufficient cooling, quality deteriorates within hours, and the fish rapidly loses its market value, becoming unsellable.

This challenge is not limited to tuna alone. Ice shortage affects nearly all types of fish caught in Morotai, from reef fish to pelagic, reducing their shelf life and cutting into fishers’ earnings. What could have been a source of income instead turns into waste, weakening the local economy and leaving fishing families vulnerable. This is a harsh reality Morotai’s fishers have faced for generations.

When Green Innovation Meets Blue Economy

But amid these challenges lies an opportunity: to rethink how small island communities can harness innovation to break this cycle. This is where the seaBLUE Project, funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNDP Indonesia with the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, steps in.

Through seaBLUE, Morotai is becoming a testing ground for green technology in the blue economy. The project is introducing solar-powered cool-boxes, a simple but transformative innovation that both preserves fish and produces ice. These units, assembled by a team from IPB University, are designed specifically for remote, off-grid coastal communities. For fishers who have struggled for years with post-harvest losses, this technology means more than convenience, as it means security, dignity, and the ability to plan for the future.

A reliable source of ice not only keeps the fish fresh, but it also keeps livelihoods alive. By maintaining the value of their catch, fishers can command fairer prices and reduce waste. Some may even sell excess ice to others, creating new income streams that ripple through the local economy. What was once a cycle of loss now has the potential to become a cycle of growth.

Building Local Capacity and Shared Ownership

True progress isn’t just measured by new technology; it is also defined by the people who can sustain it. UNDP’s approach goes beyond providing equipment, it focuses on building community ownership from the start. Through a careful and participatory process, the seaBLUE team identifies beneficiary administrators who will be responsible for managing and maintaining the solar-powered units.

This process unfolds in three stages. First, a needs assessment helps pinpoint challenges and opportunities within the community. Then, stakeholder consultations ensure alignment with village, district, and national authorities. Finally, a readiness assessment verifies infrastructure and local commitment before the technology is installed. Every step is designed to be transparent and inclusive, ensuring that those who benefit most are also those who will keep the initiative alive.

To further strengthen sustainability, seaBLUE will also provide hands-on training so that local operators can independently manage the system, repair minor issues, and even explore ways to expand its use. This capacity-building is essential to ensuring the project’s legacy long after it concludes.

Today, as the sun sets over Morotai, it illuminates not just the waters that sustain life, but a community’s renewed hope. From a tragedy of buried tuna, a new story is emerging: one of resilience, innovation, and empowerment.

Through the seaBLUE project, UNDP is proving that sustainable solutions don’t always come in grand forms. Sometimes, they start with something as simple, yet as vital, as ice. By combining green technology with local ownership, Morotai’s fishers are charting a new course toward a bluer, more sustainable future, where the bounty of the sea is no longer buried, but preserved and celebrated for generations to come.  

Author: Rifki Furqan