“Renewable energy is not just a technical solution, but also a foundation for economic justice. Many small-scale farmers are trapped in high operational costs due to dependence on fuel. If we push the energy transition seriously, we can achieve a leap in productivity that benefits everyone.”
— Cahyadi Rasyid, Assistant Deputy for Aquaculture Development, Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs
PELAKITA.ID – Indonesia’s shrimp aquaculture industry is entering a critical phase as the country seeks to strengthen national food security and enhance the competitiveness of its blue economy.
As a major source of sustainable animal protein and the top foreign-exchange contributor in the fisheries sector, shrimp aquaculture has become a priority in achieving food self-sufficiency, as outlined in the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).
To support this transformation agenda, the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs—together with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), the Banyuwangi Regency Government, and Conservasi Indonesia—held the National Workshop and Launching of the Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture Task Force in Banyuwangi on 10 December 2025.
Challenges Facing Indonesia’s Shrimp Industry
Data from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries shows that national shrimp production has steadily increased over the past five years—from 863,118 tons in 2019 to 941,646 tons in 2023—although annual growth remains around 1.37%.
Despite this progress, the industry continues to face significant challenges. Frequent disease outbreaks, declining environmental quality, and inefficient area management remain major technical barriers.
Non-technical issues also contribute to the complexity, including limited access to affordable financing, bureaucratic hurdles in the licensing system, and socio-political dynamics on the ground such as community resistance and spatial conflicts.
According to Cahyadi Rasyid, the policy ecosystem surrounding the shrimp sector must be strengthened to keep pace with evolving challenges.
“Shrimp aquaculture transformation can no longer be carried out in a sectoral manner. We need a leap in approach—one that integrates science, technology, institutional reform, and community participation. This is the moment to build governance that is more collaborative, more adaptive, and truly rooted in sustainability.”
He added: “The National Workshop in Banyuwangi will significantly contribute to the transformation of sustainable shrimp governance. We appreciate the local government for allocating resources to accelerate shrimp governance reform toward 2029.”
Clean Energy Innovation for Shrimp Farming
One of the biggest challenges faced by farmers, according to Cahyadi, is unstable energy supply. “In many areas, traditional shrimp ponds are located far from the electricity grid, making intensification very limited. In such conditions, renewable energy—especially solar panels—becomes an increasingly relevant solution.”
Experiences from several countries show that solar power can significantly reduce operational costs, particularly for paddlewheels, which consume the most energy.
For this reason, the government, associations, farmer groups, universities, and NGOs must work together to develop collaborative models and pilot projects for renewable energy in shrimp farming—an initiative aligned with Asta Cita (National Agenda) Point 2 on clean energy utilization.
Cahyadi reiterated that energy innovation is a key entry point for boosting efficiency: “Renewable energy is not only a technical solution but a foundation for economic justice. Many small-scale farmers are burdened by high operational costs due to fuel dependence. If we push the energy transition seriously, we can create a broad-based leap in productivity.”
Strengthening Environmentally Friendly Practices
Environmental sustainability is another major concern. Many former shrimp-farming areas in Indonesia have experienced ecological degradation due to uncontrolled practices. Banyuwangi stands out as an example of how multi-stakeholder collaboration can restore ecosystems while improving productivity.
Over the past five years, Conservasi Indonesia and local partners have consistently implemented sustainable aquaculture practices, mangrove restoration, and improved governance. The results show increased productivity alongside better ecological function.
Cahyadi emphasized that the Banyuwangi model should be replicated nationally:
“We see that landscape-based approaches and partnerships have delivered real results in Banyuwangi. This proves that sustainability is not an abstract idea—it can be implemented, it works, and it improves farmer livelihoods.”
A Collaborative Forum for National Transformation
The National Workshop in Banyuwangi—held on 10 December 2025—served as a platform for stakeholders from national ministries, regional governments, academia, industry associations, and development partners to align strategies and unify policy directions.
The forum addressed not only technological innovation and production strategies but also governance, licensing, marketing, and policy harmonization across ministries and agencies.
A key agenda item was the launch of the Banyuwangi Sustainable Shrimp Aquaculture Task Force, which will support policy implementation at the regional level. The workshop also featured panel discussions on aquaculture innovation, renewable-energy utilization, responses to recent US FDA findings, and strengthening domestic and global market access.
The event continued with field visits to Karangrejo and Wringinputih Villages—locations that showcase community-based sustainable shrimp-farming practices. These visits allowed participants to observe firsthand how multi-sector collaboration improves both environmental sustainability and farmer incomes.
A Significant Milestone Toward 2029
With shrimp contributing USD 1.68 billion to Indonesia’s fisheries exports in 2024—28% of all national fisheries exports—the government regards this subsector as a key pillar of Indonesia’s 2025–2029 blue economy transformation. The Banyuwangi workshop forms an integral part of this national effort.
Cahyadi concluded by emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum:
“If the shrimp industry wants to remain the locomotive of the blue economy, we must move together. As directed by the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Mr. Zulkifli Hasan, no institution can work alone. This is the time to strengthen networks, accelerate innovation, and ensure sustainability becomes the foundation of every policy.”
Strong Multi-Ministry Participation
The National Workshop and Task Force Launch brought together representatives from multiple ministries, demonstrating robust national coordination.
The Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs was represented by deputy-level officials overseeing aquaculture development, fisheries infrastructure, maritime competitiveness, and forest governance. Bappenas participated through its Director of Marine and Fisheries, ensuring alignment with national medium-term development planning. The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries also attended.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), via the Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE), highlighted the importance of clean energy support. BRIN contributed through its fisheries research expertise.
Regional governments were also well represented, with Banyuwangi serving as host alongside technical agencies, task force members, and shrimp farmers—both traditional and intensive. The Situbondo Regency Government also sent its fisheries office, reflecting shared interest in developing shrimp clusters in East Java’s “horseshoe” region.
Universities from Banyuwangi and Surabaya will provide academic insights, while associations such as Shrimp Club Indonesia (SCI), Astin Situbondo, and the Indonesian Shrimp Forum brought industry perspectives.
Development partners—including Konservasi Indonesia, YSAI, and WRI Indonesia—enriched the dialogue with field experiences and science-based approaches. The private sector, including aquaculture technology firms, processing units, cooperatives, and community-based media, also took part.
This diverse composition demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening Indonesia’s shrimp aquaculture through collaboration, policy integration, and the adoption of sustainable practices.
Pelakita.ID Team