UNAIR NEWS – Overfishing in Indonesia has evolved into a structural challenge, posing serious risks to the stability of marine ecosystems. Addressing this issue, Chelsea Hani Marcelia Sundawa, a student in the Fisheries Product Technology program at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPK), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), has developed an innovative solution. She developed a sustainable technology titled “Bioflocsmart: An Intensive Milkfish (Chanos chanos) Aquaculture Application as a Strategy to Mitigate Overfishing and Strengthen a Sustainable Fisheries Economy in Indonesia in the Bio Society 5.0 Era.”
This forward-thinking concept earned Sundawa third place in the essay category at the Sriwijaya Innovation National Essay and Poster Award (SINEPA) 2026, a national competition organized by SINEPA that brought together participants from more than 120 institutions across the country.
Addressing Indonesia overfishing crisis
Bioflocsmart was developed in response to data showing that Indonesia incurred losses exceeding IDR 13 trillion due to illegal and unregulated fishing between 2020 and 2025. Sundawa drew insight from conditions in coastal areas such as Kenjeran Beach, where overfishing remains common. This pattern has reduced fish stocks and forced fishers to travel farther offshore, significantly increasing their operational costs.
“We cannot simply restrict fishermen from overfishing without providing practical alternatives. That is why I propose Bioflocsmart technology, particularly for milkfish aquaculture, so fish production can be carried out independently without placing excessive pressure on marine resources,” Sundawa said.
The situation has worsened as the fisheries sector’s contribution to Indonesia’s GDP has declined from 7-8% to roughly 2-3%, reflecting the broader impact of unchecked overfishing.
Advancing aquaculture through Bioflocsmart
Bioflocsmart introduces a milkfish cultivation system that converts organic waste into protein-rich natural feed. The approach can cut production costs by an estimated 30-50% while maintaining fish survival rates between 80-90%.
The system is designed to help fishermen transition into aquaculture practitioners who are less vulnerable to seasonal fluctuations in fish catches, particularly in the Bio Society 5.0 era. By ensuring a more stable supply through intensive aquaculture, reliance on wild-caught fish can be reduced, helping preserve fish populations in Indonesian waters.
Supporting sustainable coastal economies
In addition to its environmental benefits, the innovation offers meaningful economic advantages for coastal communities by creating more stable and diversified income streams compared to seasonal fishing, which carries greater uncertainty. It is expected to help reduce poverty among fishing households by providing a sustainable alternative source of livelihood.
Sundawa said she encountered several challenges during the process, particularly in managing her time. Developing the idea into a complete project took about a month while she balanced a demanding fourth-semester course load. “The biggest challenge was time management, as academic responsibilities were particularly intense. However, with my prior experience in fisheries technology competitions, I remained confident that this idea could offer real solutions to Indonesia’s fisheries challenges,” she said.
Despite the tight academic schedule, Sundawa hopes the initiative can serve as a meaningful step toward strengthening food security and improving the long-term economic well-being of coastal communities.
Author: Fauziah Laili Romadhon
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
