The fisheries potential of Southeast Maluku Regency continues to be developed as a source of nutritious food and a driver of economic opportunities for coastal communities. Through collaboration between the Global Environment Facility 6 (GEF-6) Coastal Fisheries Initiative (CFI) Indonesia and the Southeast Maluku Regency Government, women fish-processing groups are being supported to develop processed fish products with the potential to contribute to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Programme.

This effort was carried out through “GEF-6 CFI Indonesia and Southeast Maluku Regency Government Best Practice Learning Collaboration through Fish Ball Production Training as an Alternative MBG Menu,” held on 8–10 September 2026 at the Southeast Maluku Regent’s Office Hall in Langgur. Practical fish ball production sessions took place at the production facility of the Sid Sarmav Sneck Processing and Marketing Groups (Poklahsar) in Ohoi Ohoidertavun, Kei Kecil District.

Group Photo: The Vice Regent of Southeast Maluku with invited guests and 35 participants at the opening of the “GEF-6 CFI Indonesia and Southeast Maluku Regency Government Best Practice Learning Collaboration through Fish Ball Production Training as an Alternative MBG Menu”, held at the Southeast Maluku Regent’s Office Hall, Langgur (8 September 2026).

The activity brought together 35 participants from five fish processing and marketing groups (Poklahsar). Two groups—Sid Sarmav Sneck from Ohoi Ohoidertavun and Vid Amalir from Ohoi Wab—were from Southeast Maluku Regency. The other three groups, Kerapu, Loor Un, and Bubara, were from the Red-White Fisher Village (KNMP) in Ohoi Labetawi, Tual City. The activity forms part of GEF-6 CFI Indonesia’s “The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in Eastern Indonesia” programme, implemented through cooperation between Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and WWF-US (as GEF Agency).

The activity was officially opened by Carlos Viali Rahantoknam, Vice Regent of Southeast Maluku, who attended on behalf of the Regent. The opening programme included a prayer, speeches, a symbolic beating of the tifa drum alongside the Head of the Ambon BPOM (National Agency for Drug and Food Control), and the signing of a cooperation agreement with Sid Sarmav Sneck Poklahsar in Ohoi Ohoidertavun, led by Zulfa Hayer, as one of the groups being prepared to support the provision of MBG menus.

Southeast Maluku Vice Regent Carlos Viali Rahantoknam delivers remarks and officially opens the “GEF-6 CFI Indonesia and Southeast Maluku Regency Government Best Practice Learning Collaboration through Fish Ball Production Training as an Alternative MBG Menu” at the Southeast Maluku Regent’s Office Hall, Langgur (8 September 2026).

In his remarks, Carlos expressed his appreciation to MMAF and GEF-6 CFI Indonesia for working with the Southeast Maluku Regency Government to develop local fisheries potential while supporting the implementation of the MBG Programme.

He noted that fisheries are an important pillar of the regional economy. Southeast Maluku Regency has considerable potential in both capture fisheries and aquaculture, as well as in fish processing and marketing. However, this potential has yet to translate fully into improved well-being for coastal communities.

He therefore emphasized the need for a more collaborative approach to development, particularly amid constraints on government budgets.

“We can no longer work in the same way as before. We must be smart, collaborative and innovative, and build partnerships for development. Cooperation between the subnational government and GEF-6 CFI Indonesia is a strategic step in the region’s current development efforts. We cannot rely entirely on the regional budget. We must actively seek opportunities and engage partners to advance development,” Carlos said.

He added that fish balls could provide an alternative source of protein and contribute to diversify children’s diets. Developing such products, however, requires attention to product quality, hygiene, food safety, and compliance with the standards required within the MBG supply chain.

Ruslan A.G. Ingratubun, Head of the Southeast Maluku Regency Fisheries Service, presents the implementation report of the, “GEF-6 CFI Indonesia and Southeast Maluku Regency Government Best Practice Learning Collaboration through Fish Ball Production Training as an Alternative MBG Menu,” at the Southeast Maluku Regent’s Office Hall in Langgur (8 September 2026).

Ruslan A.G. Ingratubun, Head of the Southeast Maluku Regency Fisheries Office, said the activity was part of the subnational government’s efforts to identify innovative ways to develop the coastal economy amid limited development funding.

“We see this as an opportunity to turn Southeast Maluku’s fishery resources into higher-value products. Fish-processing groups need more than production skills; they must also understand quality, food safety, packaging, and market requirements. We hope this training will serve as a first step towards strengthening women’s coastal groups, helping them become more self-reliant and enabling them to participate in the MBG supply chain,” Ruslan said.

The Vice Regent of Southeast Maluku poses with the Head of the BPOM Ambon, the Head of the PBPH2 Division of the Maluku Provincial Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office (DKP), the Southeast Maluku Regency Expert Staff for Economic, Financial and Development Affairs, the Head of the Southeast Maluku Regency Fisheries Service, representatives of the Southeast Maluku Regency Health Office, the Southeast Maluku Regional SPPG Coordinator, the heads of SPPG units in Langgur, Wealirlir, Watdek, and Wab, a representative of PPN Tual, and the Chair of Sid Sarmav Sneck Poklahsar in Ohoi Ohoidertavun at the Southeast Maluku Regent’s Office Hall in Langgur (8 September 2026).

To ensure that products meet market requirements and MBG standards, participants received inputs from several government institutions. The Southeast Maluku Fisheries Service provided guidance on regional fisheries policies and development strategies. BPOM Ambon addressed food safety standards and certification, while the Maluku Provincial Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office explained the Processing Feasibility Certificate (SKP). The Southeast Maluku Health Office addressed food safety and Home Industry Food (PIRT) requirements, while the Southeast Maluku SPPG Regional Coordinator provided perspectives on nutritional requirements and food safety standards for processed fish products intended for MBG menus.

For GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, the activity was more than a technical training session. Ahadar Tuhuteru, Knowledge Management and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist, representing the Project Manager of the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia Project Management Unit (PMU), explained that the activity forms part of efforts to ensure that project learning can be sustained and replicated after the programme ends.

“This is not just about training. It is an opportunity to revisit the best practices we have developed and ensure that the learning can continue after the project ends,” Ahadar said.

Ahadar Tuhuteru, Knowledge Management and M&E Specialist representing the Project Manager of the GEF-6 CFI Indonesia PMU, delivers remarks online via Zoom during the “GEF-6 CFI Indonesia and Southeast Maluku Regency Government Best Practice Learning Collaboration through Fish Ball Production Training as an Alternative MBG Menu”, held at the Southeast Maluku Regent’s Office Hall, Langgur (8 September 2026).

As GEF-6 CFI Indonesia entered the final stage of implementation in 2026, the project had reached more than 50 villages and approximately 6,878 fishers, with women accounting for around 48.86 percent of participation. These lessons continue to be replicated through the strengthening of coastal women’s groups and the development of women champions as community-level drivers of change.

In 2026, the replication of good practices was expanded to involve around 100 women from new groups in KNMP locations in Tual City, Buru Regency, and Konawe Regency. Women champions from previously supported groups also served as trainers, sharing their experience and skills with the new groups. This approach demonstrates how knowledge can be passed on and further developed by communities themselves.

Ahadar emphasized that programme success should not be measured solely by the number of training sessions delivered., but also by whether groups can continue operating independently and whether subnational governments take ownership of the good practices developed.

“Sustainable fisheries management cannot focus only on fish and the sea. We must also consider fishers’ families, coastal women, household incomes, community groups, market access, food safety, and the future of the next generation,” he said.

Through GEF-6 CFI Indonesia funding, participants received support in the form of fish ball processing equipment, including a freezer, grinder, fish ball-forming machine, fish ball cooking pot, and other supporting equipment as part of the “GEF-6 CFI Indonesia and Southeast Maluku Regency Government Best Practice Learning Collaboration through Fish Ball Production Training as an Alternative MBG Menu.”

The opportunity to integrate locally produced fishery products into the MBG supply chain demonstrates how project learning can be connected to the national development agenda. The value chain begins with fish landed by local fishers, which is then processed by community groups, particularly coastal women, meets quality and food safety standards, and subsequently enters the MBG supply chain, allowing more of the economic benefits to remain within coastal communities.

GEF-6 CFI Indonesia had previously supported women’s fish-processing groups in Southeast Maluku. In 2025, 40 women from eight business groups received training on business licensing and legal compliance, food safety, and product readiness to support participation in the MBG supply chain.

The nutrition team from the Southeast Maluku SPPG Regional Coordination team also provided support during the production of fish balls as an alternative MBG menu at the production facility of the Chair of the Sid Sarmav Sneck fish-processing group in Ohoi Ohoidertavun, Southeast Maluku Regency (10 September 2026).

Looking ahead, the Southeast Maluku Regency Government, together with relevant government offices, SPPG units, fish-processing groups, and development partners will need to ensure that the trainings lead to more than knowledge acquisition—that they help establish independent and sustainable businesses.

“The programme may end, but the learning must continue,” Ahadar stressed.

From Southeast Maluku, this collaboration demonstrates that the sea provides more than fish: it also creates opportunities for coastal women to add value to local resources, strengthen household economies, and contribute to improving Indonesia children’s nutrition. When locally caught fish can be processed by community members themselves and reach children’s dining tables through a standards-compliant supply chain, fisheries sustainability, food security, and community well-being can advance together.