Jepara, April 22, 2025 – The Student Association of Fisheries and Marine Technology and Business (Himatekbis) of Diponegoro University held a public lecture entitled “Jepara Fisheries Management: Strengthening Potential, Encouraging Innovation, and Facing Sustainability” on Tuesday (April 22, 2025) in the Theater Room of the Undip Jepara Campus. The event was attended by dozens of students from the Fisheries and Marine Technology and Business Department, several young lecturers, the Head of the Fisheries and Marine Technology and Business Study Program (TBPK), and the Deputy Chair of the Undip Jepara Campus Management Board. The event aimed to provide participants with in-depth insight into the realities on the ground and the latest innovations in fisheries sector management.
The event opened with three remarks: the first by Candra Prawiraneng Gusti as the Chief Executive, then by Ahmad Alvin Kurniawan as the Chair of Himatekbis, and finally by the Head of the Fisheries and Marine Technology and Business Study Program, Eko Susanto, S.Pi., M.Sc., Ph.D. The remarks began with a collective prayer and were delivered with hope.
The series of events featured two keynote speakers. The first speaker, Ahmad Sofuan, S.T., M.Si., from the Jepara Regency Fisheries Office, outlined the potential and challenges of the fisheries sector in Jepara from the perspective of the local government. According to Sofuan, Jepara Regency has a sea area of approximately 1,845.6 km² with a coastline of 72–82.7 km. He emphasized that “Jepara is not only about wood carving, but also about marine and fisheries potential.” Many important coastal districts in Jepara – such as Jepara, Kedung, Donorojo, Mlonggo, Tahunan, and even the Karimunjawa Islands – are focal points for development.
Despite its rich potential, Mr. Sofuan highlighted a series of serious obstacles. He cited the phrase “great potential, but real challenges” in managing Jepara’s fisheries. The challenges mentioned include overfishing and illegal fishing, the impacts of climate change, conflicts over the use of marine space, low innovation in human resources in the fisheries sector, and limited downstreaming and management of catches. “The regional government needs concrete strategies to address these,” he said.
In response, Sofuan explained various strategies to strengthen Jepara’s fisheries potential. Some of these include the implementation of zoning for fishing and fish farming areas, intensive mentoring for fishermen and fish farmers, and the revitalization of fisheries infrastructure (ports, docks, fisheries processing facilities, etc.). The government is also promoting fishery product certification and legalization programs, launching a digital fisherman program, and strengthening fisherman institutions and fishery business groups. To engage the younger generation, he encouraged students to actively innovate. At the end of his presentation, Mr. Sofuan emphasized that “the future of the ocean is in your hands,” as a motivational message to the students to continue working.
The second session was delivered by Alfabetian Harjuno Condro Haditomo, S.Pi., M.Si., Ph.D., a lecturer from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Diponegoro University. Mr. Condro discussed the character and role of students in addressing national fisheries challenges. He emphasized that students must possess an innovative and collaborative spirit, and prepare themselves with strong scientific insight. He believes that campuses are not just places to learn, but also platforms for developing future leaders in the marine sector. “Students must build networks, continue learning, and not be afraid to go into the field to apply their knowledge,” he said.
Mr. Condro connected the material to the realities of field needs. He encouraged TBPK students to think critically and find solutions to address real-world problems. This presentation echoed the Jepara Fisheries Service’s message that the younger generation must be “knowledgeable, have integrity, and dare to innovate.” Another inspiration conveyed was the spirit of becoming “pioneers of healthy oceans and strong fisheries” for Indonesia’s future. Thus, collaboration between academics, practitioners, and students is expected to produce relevant, sustainable, and innovative solutions.
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session and the presentation of award plaques by the committee to the two speakers as a token of appreciation for their contributions. Ahmad Alvin Kurniawan, Head of Himatekbis, and Candra Prawiraneng Gusti, Head of the event’s organizing committee, both expressed their strong hope that this event would spark critical thinking and solution-oriented thinking among students. “This event is expected to foster critical and solution-oriented thinking among students,” he emphasized. By fostering dialogue between the younger generation, academics, and fisheries practitioners, it is hoped that UNDIP’s Fisheries and Marine Technology and Business students will be better prepared to face the challenges and opportunities in the national fisheries sector, for the advancement of maritime development.