Seaweed cultured around the coast of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), is often damaged due to simple drying methods, while prices fluctuate. The quality of the fish caught quickly declines due to lack of processing. Unpredictable weather, temperature changes, salinity, and environmental threats make culture yields difficult to predict. Limited access to education and technical assistance exacerbates this situation.
Recognizing these challenges, a team of lecturers from the P3M Polytechnic of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Kupang, under the leadership of Rifqah, designed the Eco-Maritime Village Program. This program aims to build the independence of coastal communities through a combination of campus research and local mutual cooperation. All lecturers and educational staff from various study programs participated according to their competencies and with support from PLN’s CSR funds, now known as the Social and Environmental Responsibility Program (TJSL).
The first program focused on education and training. The community was taught culture techniques for selecting seaweed varieties (selvarula) and assisted with water quality monitoring. The Sartika team, along with lecturers from the Fisheries and Marine Sciences (TBP) Study Program, directly measured water quality parameters, which serve as the basis for culture decisions. By regularly measuring water quality parameters, the community can determine optimal planting and harvest times, thereby maintaining seaweed quality.
Training on seaweed farms and product processing offers new hope for coastal families. In addition to learning how to plant and care for seaweed, the community is introduced to drying technology by Amril and the Fisheries Mechanization Team. With the right techniques, the seaweed quality is maintained, it doesn’t spoil quickly, and it has a higher sales value. This program began with research experience in Tablolong Village and was disseminated through outreach.
