The Head of Pokmaswas Jaya Bahari Abadi (right) receives the award from the Indonesian Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (center, light blue shirt), alongside the Head of the Lampung Marine and Fisheries Agency (left).
By: Meutia Isty Wulandari
The “Jaya Bahari Abadi” Community Surveillance Group (Kelompok Masyarakat Pengawas/Pokmaswas) has won third place in the 2024 Adibakti Mina Bahari Award. This prestigious award is given by the Indonesian’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to stakeholders who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the marine and fisheries sector. The award was presented on Friday, September 26 by the Minister to the head of Pokmaswas Jaya Bahari Abadi in front of 10,000 attendees.
This achievement is all more impressive given the relatively short history of Pokmaswas Jaya Bahari Abadi. Despite being revitalized just two years ago, the group has managed to outperform 3,150 other active Pokmaswas groups across Indonesia, many of which have been operating for much longer periods.
The group’s success can be attributed to its unwavering commitment to conducting active surveillance, reporting illegal fishing practices, and promoting sustainable fishing practices.
The Head of the Pokmaswas Jaya Bahari Abadi(left) with the Head of Provincial Marine and Fisheries Agency (center) and Head of the Surveillance Department (right).
Their efforts have been supported by EDF, Lampung provincial government, and local NGO “Mitra Bentala” since 2022, which has helped to revitalize the group, connected the group with stakeholders supporting the group’s surveillance activities, and provided crucial capacity-building initiatives to enhance the group’s skills and effectiveness.
In recognition of their exceptional contributions, the Ministry honored Pokmaswas Jaya Bahari Abadi with a cash prize of IDR 10 million (approximately USD 640), which will bolster the group’s future conservation efforts.
The success of Pokmaswas Jaya Bahari Abadi serves as an inspiring example of how local community groups can make a significant impact on marine conservation and sustainable fisheries management. Their achievement not only brings pride to their community but also sets a high standard for other surveillance groups across Indonesia.
Read more about the story of Pokmaswas’ journey in this previous EDFish blog.