Morotai, 5 March 2026 – The Government of Japan, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) concluded a joint visit to Morotai Island, North Maluku Province, reaffirming their shared commitment to advancing coastal livelihoods and safeguarding Indonesia’s marine ecosystems. 

The visit showcased progress under the “Strengthening Livelihood of Small-Scale Fishers and Promoting Sustainable Local Economic Development through the Blue Economy (seaBLUE)” project, funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNDP in collaboration with MMAF. 

The initiative takes place in Morotai, where the poverty rate remains at 5.4% and some communities still face limited economic opportunities. It delivers practical, climate‑resilient solutions that increase the incomes of small‑scale fishers while supporting long-term, sustainable growth in coastal communities.

“SeaBLUE shows how strong partnerships can create real change for coastal communities,” said Sara Ferrer Olivella, Resident Representative of UNDP Indonesia. “By working with communities and deploying small technology solutions such as solar powered fishing boats and cool storages boxes, families’ reduce expensive fossil fuel to power their boats, continue to harvest long line seaweed and increase the shelf-life of their daily catch. At the end, it is about helping coastal families to build more secure and sustainable futures by increasing their incomes and minimizing the negative impact on nature, the source of their future livelihoods."

The visit was joined by Tri Tharyat, Director General of Multilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Yayan Hikmayani, Head of the Marine and Fisheries Extension Center of the MMAF, Sara Ferrer Olivella, Resident Representative of UNDP Indonesia, and Reiko Kamigaki, Counsellor of Economic Section of the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia alongside senior national and local government representatives. Together, they met fishers and coastal communities in Galo-Galo Island to see firsthand how the initiative is delivering results.

Indonesia is home to around two million small-scale fishers, who contribute nearly 60% of national fisheries production and play a crucial role in food security and local economies. In Morotai alone, more than 4,000 small-scale fishers, fish processors, and fish sellers depend on marine resources for their livelihoods. However, many face persistent challenges, including climate change impacts, limited infrastructure, lack of reliable cold storage, and rising fuel costs, which are factors that often force fishers to sell their catch quickly at lower prices or risk spoilage.

Through seaBLUE, UNDP supports practical solutions that strengthen skills, improve fisheries management, and introduce cleaner and more efficient technologies. For example, solar-powered cold storage systems have been installed at 17 locations in Morotai. These systems reduce spoilage, cut operating costs, and improve fish quality. As a result, every IDR 1 invested is expected to generate approximately IDR 3 in economic return, by helping fishers earn better prices, reduce losses, and build stronger, more sustainable livelihoods.

The project has also introduced solar-powered electric boat engines to help reduce fuel costs and emissions, while strengthening fisheries management. To improve legal recognition and data accuracy, 230 fishing vessels have been measured and registered into the Sistem Informasi Izin Kapal Daerah (SIMKADA), the regional vessel licensing information system. This gives small-scale fishers official recognition and helps manage fisheries more effectively.

“Japan remains committed to supporting sustainable development and resilient coastal communities in Indonesia,” said Ms. Reiko Kamigaki, Counsellor of the Economic Section of the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia. “Strengthening sustainable fisheries is essential to ensuring food security, economic stability, and the long-term health of our oceans.”

The results in Morotai demonstrate how targeted action in small-scale fisheries can strengthen Indonesia’s marine economy while enhancing food security and improving the livelihood of coastal communities. By closing critical infrastructure gaps and improving fisheries governance, the partnership is reinforcing the foundations of a more resilient and competitive marine sector.

"As the world’s largest archipelagic country, our future growth depends on a strong and sustainable marine food sector. Through the seaBLUE project, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries fully supports efforts to strengthen small-scale fisheries by investing in human resource capacity development. This support is delivered through continuous training and extension services for coastal communities. To date, hundreds of community members have been trained under the seaBLUE project, and our fisheries extension officers are ready to actively accompany and assist marine and fisheries community groups to ensure sustainable livelihoods, improved productivity, and long-term resilience,” said Yayan Hikmayani, Director of the Marine and Fisheries Extension Center of MMAF.

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Media Contacts:

Nabilla Rahmani, Head of Communications, UNDP Indonesia

nabilla.rahmani@undp.org