Merah Putih Fishing Village in Bumiharjo, Keling, Jepara, will be equipped with a gas station.

Jepara - The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is working to add a Fishermen’s Public Fuel Filling Station (SPBUN) at the Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih (KNMP) in Bumiharjo Village, Keling District, Jepara Regency.

One of the approaches taken by the KKP is to encourage the involvement of cooperatives and business actors to operate the fuel business. The presence of an SPBUN will complete the fisheries facilities at KNMP Bumiharjo to meet the needs of local fishermen.

“The existing facilities are already up to expectations, from the ice plant to the cold storage. The only one still missing is the SPBUN, so ideally we should open it soon for everyone,” said Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono during his visit to KNMP Bumiharjo in Jepara on Friday (6/3).

The ministry is open to collaboration with any party to realize the construction of the SPBUN in the area. Having easy access to fuel near upstream fishing activities is key to improving the operational cost efficiency for fishermen.

The potential for fishing in Bumiharjo Village remains significant. The village currently has 250 active fishermen using traditional boats measuring 5–10 GT. The fishery commodities produced are high-value fish, including cutlassfish (layur) and tuna (tongkol).

“If the cooperative is interested, let’s make the SPBUN happen. Private parties who are interested are also welcome,” Minister Trenggono said.

During the visit, Minister Trenggono inspected the facilities at KNMP Bumiharjo one by one, including the ice factory (slurry ice), fish landing shelter, and fishermen’s workshop.

Regarding workshop equipment, Minister Trenggono mentioned that additional boat-pulling machines will be provided so fishermen no longer have to manually push boats that need repairs in the workshop.

The use of modern technology such as slurry ice is also a focus of the KKP to ensure that fishermen’s catches remain fresh and of high quality. These facilities are expected to increase the selling value of fishery products from Jepara to broader markets.

“The hope is that fishermen will become more prosperous. The fish from here will have good quality and remain healthy through the use of adequate supporting equipment,” added Minister Trenggono.

The first KNMP in Bumi Kartini was officially inaugurated directly by Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono on Friday (6/3/2026), accompanied by Jepara Regent H. Witiarso Utomo, Deputy Regent Muhammad Ibnu Hajar, and the Jepara Forkopimda.

Narto, together with all members of Fornel Jepara, expressed gratitude and appreciation for the development of this facility. He is optimistic that with the presence of KNMP Bumiharjo, fishermen will become more enthusiastic and more optimal in catching and processing fish.

“Here, in addition to facilities for fishermen, there are also other facilities such as fish processing and culinary services, so mothers can also benefit,” said Narto.

Some of the facilities built include a fish landing area, cold storage, portable ice factory, culinary kiosks, pier, boat docking area, management office, fishermen’s hall, and net/ fishing gear repair area.

With these facilities in place, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono expressed satisfaction because the buildings meet the expectations of the fishermen.

“Ideally, there should be an SPBN (Fishermen’s Fuel Filling Station), so we are opening it to anyone — cooperatives or villages — to build the SPBN,” he explained.

Wahyu hopes that with the provided infrastructure and facilities, Jepara fishermen can become more productive and prosperous. He believes that if production increases and improves in quality, it will align with the level of community fish consumption.

“So the hope is that the fish from here will no longer be unhealthy fish, but fish that are truly of good quality,” he emphasized.

Wahyu explained that this program is implemented thematically, meaning each region has a KNMP tailored to its local potential, such as capture fisheries, seaweed cultivation, and so on. For this reason, he asked Regent H. Witiarso Utomo to map the potentials and propose additional KNMPs in Jepara.

Previously, the Regent and his team had met and submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, one of which concerned the Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih. In the proposal, Mas Wiwit (the familiar nickname for H. Witiarso Utomo) suggested three villages as new KNMP locations: Karimunjawa Village, Ujungwatu Village, and Mororejo Village.

Coastal Tourism Destination Based on Culinary and MSMEs

The Jepara Regency Government is pushing the transformation of Kampung Nelayan Bringin in Bumiharjo Village, Keling District, into a coastal tourism destination centered on the local economy and wisdom. The area is projected to serve not only as a hub for fishermen’s activities but also as a new tourist attraction in Jepara.

Jepara Regent Witiarso Utomo emphasized that the vast potential of the coastal area, with more than 83 kilometers of coastline, must be utilized optimally — including turning fishing villages into economic centers and tourism destinations.

“The sea is part of our heartbeat. These fishing villages must be well-organized, productive, and can serve as examples for other coastal villages,” he stated firmly during the National Fishermen’s Day commemoration at Kampung Nelayan Bringin on Monday (6/4/2026).

The prepared development concept focuses not only on the fisheries sector but also on integrating culinary tourism and MSMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises). The area is known for its signature smoked fish, which will be strengthened with culinary centers featuring grilled fish and *pindang serani*, along with dedicated areas for traders.

Infrastructure support is also being continuously improved, including concrete road access to make it easier for tourists to visit the site.

In addition, the local government is encouraging the enhancement of supporting facilities for fishermen, ranging from boat mooring facilities, business spaces, to catch storage areas.

Strengthening fishermen’s cooperatives is also a key focus so that marine products are not only sold raw but processed into higher-value products.

“I want the catch of Jepara fishermen not to stop at the auction site. It must be upgraded. There must be processing, marine-based MSMEs, coastal culinary offerings, and access to broader markets,” he added.

On that occasion, Witiarso also opened a dialogue with around 200 local fishermen to absorb their aspirations and the challenges they face in the field.

“If there are any problems, just speak up. We will help together,” he said.

Not only in Bumiharjo, the Jepara Regency Government is also planning the development of Kampung Nelayan Merah Putih in several other areas, such as Mororejo Village and Karanggondang Village in Mlonggo District, Ujungwatu Village in Donorojo District, and Kedungmalang Village in Kedung District.

Through this integrated development, Jepara’s fishing villages are expected to be interconnected and strengthen the coastal economic ecosystem, while opening new opportunities in the tourism sector.

“They must support each other so that Jepara’s coastal economy becomes stronger,” he concluded.