The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has collaborated with the Rajungan Nusantara Fishermen Communication Forum and the Fishlog startup to strengthen the marketing of crab catches by fishermen. The Jepara Crab Communication Forum is a group of crab fishermen who catch and sell crabs to collectors. Director General of Marine and Fisheries Product Competitiveness Strengthening (PSDKP) at KKP, Budi Sulistiyanto, stated that Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) has been assisting fishermen in implementing sustainable crab fishing practices. Through a memorandum of understanding between PSDKP and Forkom and Fishlog, KKP ensures its presence in facilitating institutional strengthening and market access, particularly in bridging the gap to attain fair and transparent prices. Alongside SFP and Fishlog, they are facilitating Forkom in developing crab businesses that meet quality assurance and seafood safety systems, while also providing assistance in developing business ecosystems, including building networks with financial institutions and marketing.
This scheme aims to establish communal-based business patterns. Forkom is described as a platform for crab fishermen committed to implementing sustainable fishing principles. Various efforts have been made by Forkom, including using environmentally friendly fishing gear (such as traps), avoiding the capture or returning of small crabs, quarantining egg-bearing crabs, and recording catch data. Crab is one of KKP's five priority commodities, and they are committed to maintaining it as a sustainable fisheries product obtained through environmentally friendly methods. Budi disclosed that crab exports reached USD 448 million in 2023. Socially, this commodity provides livelihoods for approximately 90,000 crab fishermen and 180,000 peelers who process crabs.
