Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government will provide insurance to fishers under the Red-and-White Fishing Villages (KNMP) program, an official said on Monday.Trian Yunanda, head of the program's development team at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, said the measure is part of efforts to strengthen small-scale fishers, who account for 90 percent of the national fish catch.
The insurance will cover the risk of accidents at sea.
"We will provide insurance to fishers, which, of course, will be related to safety guarantees," Yunanda told a press conference in Jakarta.
The ministry aims to establish 100 fishing villages this year. So far, 65 sites for the first-phase development have been designated and are expected to be completed by December 2.
A budget proposal for 35 more villages in the second phase has been submitted, with work scheduled to begin in October.
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On the same occasion, the ministry's Director of Fishers Protection and Empowerment, Mahrus, noted that the program goes beyond building residential areas for fishers.
The government will also provide infrastructure such as piers, roads, drainage, and electricity systems. By 2027, the program is targeted to cover 1,100 villages.
Fishing villages will also be equipped with cold storage facilities, ice factories, workshops, logistics stores, and fuel stations.
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"This program is also designed to support a quota-based measured fishing system, which will strengthen fair and sustainable fisheries governance," Mahrus said.
He added that the ministry is optimistic the initiative will create new jobs. With around 70 jobs expected per village, the development of 100 fishing villages this year is projected to generate 7,000 jobs.
