Rembang (17/12), Youth are the future successors of the nation, including youth who live in coastal areas. Youth in coastal areas are the future of fisheries. Youth in coastal areas will, in time, replace the fishing profession in the future. Therefore, youth in coastal areas need to be educated from an early age about the importance of preserving fish resources. Excessive exploitation of fish resources will result in low fish catches and affect fishermen’s income. Fish resources that are continuously caught can experience depletion. Depletion of fish resources needs to be avoided through efforts to provide fish habitats that are protected from human activities and natural predatory activities. Coral reef areas are a natural habitat for fish which is a place to grow and reproduce. Coral reefs are areas in the waters that provide fish spawning grounds, nursery grounds and feeding grounds.

Deputy for Youth Empowerment, Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia in collaboration with the Department of Capture Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Diponegoro University initiated efforts to address the degradation of coral reefs and fish in the Pulo Suwalan area. The solution that can be implemented to the problem of coral reef and fish degradation in the Pulo Suwalan coral reef area is increasing the competency of local human resources through organizing Youth Training for handling and overcoming coral reef degradation with the title Youth Empowerment Program Based on the Utilization of Science and Technology.

The aim of implementing the Fish Shelter Implementation Training activity for Handling and Overcoming Coral Reef Degradation in the context of Preserving Fish Resources and Increasing Income for Coastal Youth is to increase understanding of the importance of sustainable management of fish resources, including for the benefit of fishing businesses, both in the short and long term then increase competency related to technical capabilities, including those related to handling and management of coral reef areas for the preservation of fish resources through appropriate technology for dome model fish shelters and increase competency related to managerial capabilities, including those related to marketing and fishery business strategies.

Activity participants are coastal youth aged 16-30 years. Activity participants are young people who are members of coastal youth groups or youth organizations at the location where the activity is carried out. The target number of participants is 50 people. The activity participants are local youth who live in the Pasar Banggi Village area, Rembang District, Rembang Regency.

Figure 1. Participants in Youth Empowerment Program Activities Based on the Use of Science and Technology

The activity will be held for three days, on Friday (15 December 2023) at the Pollos Rembang Hotel, Saturday (16 December 2023) at the Pasar Banggi Village Hall, Rembang District and Sunday (17 December 2023) at Pulo Suwalan Beach, Pasar Banggi Village . On the first day of the activity, the opening of the training was carried out by the Deputy for Youth Empowerment, namely Prof. Dr. H. M. Asrorun Ni’am Sholeh, MA. The first day of training session was carried out using a classroom learning model (class session). On the first day, training materials were presented from expert speakers from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Department of Capture Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Diponegoro University. The following are expert sources and materials provided at the class training session on the first day:

  1. Material about Youth and Science and Technology by Dr. Mustadin, S.Psi., M.Sc. (Kemenpora DBKN Team)
  2. The material entitled “Fisheries Economics and Business Management of Coastal Resource Management and Fisheries Business” by Prof. Dr. Dian Wijayanto, S.Pi., M.M., M.S.E.
  3. The material entitled “Environmentally Friendly Fishing Technology for Sustainability of Fish Resources” by Bogi Budi Jayanto, S.Pi., M.Si.
  4. The material entitled “The Economics of Fisheries Marketing and Fisheries Business Development, as well as Alternative Side Businesses for Coastal Youth” by Dr. Abdul Kohar Mudzakir, S.Pi., M.Si.
  5. The material entitled “Coral Reef Management as an Effort to Increase the Abundance of Fish Resources” by Kukuh Eko Prihantoko, S.Pi., M.Si.

Figure 2. Presentation of material and activity direction by Mr. Kukuh Eko Prihantoko, S.Pi., M.Si.

Delivery of material using the class session method was then carried out on the second day. The following are expert sources and materials provided at the training class session on the second day:

  1. The material entitled “Utilization of Geographic Information Systems in the Management of Coastal and Marine Natural Resources” by Hendrik Anggi Setyawan, S.Pi., M.Si.
  2. The material entitled “Introduction to Fish Shelters” by Kukuh Eko Prihantoko, S.Pi., M.Sc.
  3. The material entitled “Introduction to the Development of Fishing Vessels as a Supporter of Maritime Tourism” by Faik Kurohman, S.Pi., M.Si.

To minimize the level of boredom of training participants, ice breaking activities were held at each transfer of material from the resource person. The ice breaking was guided by Capture Fisheries Department students who were part of the activity organizing committee team.

The goal to be achieved in delivering material using the class session method is the distribution of knowledge conveyed by expert speakers to training participants. Limited time for delivering material can have an impact on the level of material absorption by training participants. However, the training implementation team has completed this deficiency by providing resource material modules to training participants. This is intended so that training participants can review the materials provided after the training. The materials provided by the resource persons are knowledge that can be a starter for training participants to learn more and can be gradually implemented by training participants.

Figure 3. Presentation of material by Mr. Hendrik Anggi Setyawan, S.Pi., M.Sc.

On the second day, practical activities were carried out in making a dome model fish shelter. This practical activity was carried out on the second day of training with a two-session scheme. In the first session, the process of making a fish shelter was carried out by the training instructor in collaboration with a team of technicians. In the first session, the instructor and technician provided an explanation of the tools and materials needed to make a fish shelter. Next, the instructor and technician gave a direct example of how to make a fish shelter in stages. The instructor also provides an explanation regarding the printing process and its advantages and disadvantages.

In the next session, namely the second session, training participants were given the opportunity to practice directly independently in making fish shelters guided by the instructor. The training participants followed the direct practical process of making fish shelters well, which was demonstrated by the participants’ direct involvement in each stage of making fish shelters.

Figure 4. Practice of Making Dome Model Fish Shelters by Participants Guided by Mr. Kukuh Eko Prihantoko, S.Pi., M.Si., and Technicians.

On the third day, there is the process of immersing the dome model fish shelter in the water. Implementing fish shelters is an important part of training implementation. At this stage, training participants are given direct technical skills to place fish shelters in designated coral reef areas. The process of sinking the fish shelter was carried out using 4 (four) local fishing boats. Before the process of sinking the fish shelter, the fish shelter is transported to the boat that has been prepared. In this process, 10 (ten) fish shelter units were sunk.

Figure 5. Process of bringing the Fish Shelter to the Sinking Location in the Pulo Suwalan Coral Reef Area.

The location for the fish shelter sinking was carried out in the Pulo Suwalan coral reef area at coordinates S 6 º 41′ 02″ and E 111º 23′ 13″. The water depth during installation is 120 m. This is because, at the time of installation, the water conditions were at their lowest low tide. During normal conditions or normal tides, the water depth ranges from 3-5 m and at the highest tide it can reach a depth of 5-7 m.

Figure 6. Fish Shelter Sinking Locations in the Pulo Suwalan Coral Reef Area.

The fish shelter sinking activity was attended by training participants, instructors, technicians and local fishermen. The drowning location was chosen because the bottom condition of the water substrate is sand and is close to a coral reef area. This condition will provide the opportunity for fish to have new additional areas or new additional habitats that are similar to the character of coral reefs. In the long term, it is hoped that this fish shelter will become a medium for coral reef growth, so that it can add live coral reefs to the Pulo Suwalan coral reef area.

Figure 7. Photo of participants during the sinking of the fish shelter in the Pulo Suwalan coral reef area.

With a fish shelter, it is hoped that fish will have the opportunity to grow and develop so that fish resources can be preserved. Local communities can also utilize the existence of this fish shelter for limited economic activities, such as as a fishing location using fishing gear. Local communities can use the fish shelter area as a fishing ground area, however they need to pay attention to the distance, namely not directly above the fish shelter and around 50-100 m from the installation location. The activity ended with the process of closing the activities carried out in the Pulo Suwalan Beach area by the Implementation Team from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Capture Fisheries Department Team. The closing series of activities was marked by the handover of training certificates to training participants.

Figure 7. Photo of participants at Pulo Suwalan Beach, Rembang Regency.

Training activities can be carried out well through collaboration between the Youth Empowerment Division, Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Capture Fisheries Department, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Diponegoro University. The implementation of the training involved various parties, including the Pasar Banggi Village Government, Karang Taruna, Fishermen’s Group, the Capture Fisheries Department Expert Team and the Ministry of Youth and Sports implementation team. The implementation of the training is expected to increase the competency of training participants in managing and handling degraded coral reefs. Through management and handling, it is hoped that fish resources can be sustainable and coral reefs can grow again. Apart from that, it is hoped that there will be new alternative economic sources for local communities that can grow through the development of marine tourism.

Figure 8. Group photo at Pasar Banggi Village Hall, Rembang District.

Thanks are expressed to all parties who have helped carry out training activities. In particular, thanks are expressed to the Deputy for Youth Empowerment and Assistant Deputy for Youth Empowerment along with all their staff and staff who have provided full support for the implementation of training activities.

Figure 9. Photo of giving plaques to the village at Pasar Banggi Village Hall, Rembang District

Figure 10. Photo of the Signing of the Cooperation Agreement at the Pasar Banggi Village Hall, Rembang District

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