Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Red and White Fishermen Village (KNMP) Bentenge in Bulukumba District, South Sulawesi, made its first export shipment of nearly one ton of fresh fish to Saudi Arabia, marking a significant step into international markets.
The catch, harvested by local fishermen, was transported via refrigerated trucks to the provincial capital, Makassar, on Friday before being flown to Jeddah the same day.
Trian Yunanda, Head of the KNMP Development Implementation Coordination Team, stated that the program is designed to boost community productivity and expand market reach.
“From what was once a local market, we are now reaching international consumers,” Yunanda said in a statement from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries on Saturday.
He explained that infrastructure at KNMP Bulukumba is nearing completion. The ministry has provided supporting facilities, including refrigerated trucks, boats, engines, and fishing gear, which will eventually be managed by the cooperative.
KNMP Bentenge is also equipped with boat mooring facilities, fish landing shelters, a dedicated fuel station (SPBUN), workshops, supply kiosks and a fishermen’s hall. It will also have a cold chain infrastructure which is critical for maintaining export quality, that includes a portable ice plant, cool boxes, refirigerated trucks and cold storage.
Head of the Bulukumba Marine and Fisheries Office, Muh Thaiyeb Maningkasi, stated that the development of the Red and White Fishermen Village will provide vital support for the region’s fisheries sector.
“Once it is fully operational, we will centralize fisheries activities there,” he stated.
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Maningkasi expressed optimism that Bulukumba’s fish exports would continue to increase. Following the first shipment of nearly one ton of tiger grouper and Spanish mackerel, exporters have already requested additional supply of up to 2.5 tons per day.
According to him, the cold storage facilities and refrigerated trucks available at KNMP will help fishermen meet this growing demand. Bulukumba also produces red snapper, scad, and various high-value reef fish species.
The Red and White Fishermen Villages program, launched in 2025, aims to transform fishermen villages into modern, productive, and competitive hubs by improving fishermen’s welfare through facility upgrades and better market access
The ministry plans to establish 1,000 such villages nationwide by 2026 to support food security and President Prabowo Subianto's Asta Cita missions.
This news was published on Antaranews.com with a title: South Sulawesi fishermen village ships first export to Saudi Arabia
