KKP will Modernize 1,000 Fishing Vessels, Prepare 10,900 Captains to ABK

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) will modernize 1,000 traditional fishing boats. In line with this, massive human resources (HR) support is needed.

Head of the Marine and Fisheries Human Resources Development and Extension Agency (BPPSDM KP) I Nyoman Radiarta said that his party was preparing 10,900 people for labor needs in the program.

"(Regarding) the 1,000 fishing boats, we will provide 10,900 workers, ranging from captains to ABK (crew members)," Nyoman said at a press conference at his office, Jakarta, Wednesday, December 17.

The plan is for the modernization of 1,000 fishing vessels with a capacity of 30 gross tonnage (GT) each to be placed at the location of the Red and White Fishermen's Village (KNMP).

According to Nyoman, his party will not bring in foreign workers, but recruitment will be focused on the community at the KNMP program location.

The fulfillment of the needs of the crew will be carried out through job fairs, selection, competency training and placement.

"I think this is not an easy job because the hope is from specific locations where the program is poured. So, we don't take outsiders, but take from that location," he said.

Not only that program, the Ministry of Agriculture is also preparing operational workers for a 2,000-hectare (ha) shrimp pond in Waingapu, East Sumba.

The project is predicted to require 5,680 on-farm workers.

Just like the fishing boat program, the labor for the fishponds will also be prioritized for the local community, even new high school graduates can be recruited.

To ensure that local human resources meet industry standards, KKP has prepared various levels of special education and training.

"Short education (implemented) one to two days. There is secondary education up to 7 months, even education is quite long up to 14 months. We conduct special education to fill on-farm labor in the framework of the operationalization of the shrimp pond," he said.