UNAIR NEWS – Coastal communities’ dependence on middlemen to sell their catch prompts a team of students from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) to develop value-added products from that catch through downstream processing. With their initiative titled “PESISIR BERDAYA: Coastal Downstream Processing and Fair-Trade Innovation,” they won second place in the national infographic category at Brawijaya National Youth Innovation on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Brawijaya University.
The team, named RKYchive, consists of Muhamad Rendhi Prastyo (FST), Ahmad Kevin Ilhamit Tamam (FPK), and Yean Alvi Andieka (FKP). In addition to downstream processing, the team involves women as economic drivers while digitizing products to expand market access for coastal communities.
“We believe coastal communities are not yet prosperous because much of their catch is still sold to middlemen at low prices. That is why we encourage downstream processing, so the catch gains added value and improves coastal communities’ standard of living,” Prastyo said.
Improving coastal community welfare
Poverty in coastal areas remains high, at about 17.74 percent according to 2023 data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS). This figure is one reason the team promotes downstream processing to improve coastal community welfare. Prastyo said the outcome of the “Pesisir Berdaya” innovation is coastal communities that can develop their own products without first having to go through middlemen. Sustainable empowerment while protecting the marine ecosystem is also a focus of the initiative.
“We process fisherman’ catch without disrupting their main livelihood, to reduce dependence on middlemen so coastal communities can develop their own products,” he said.
The “Pesisir Berdaya” proposal that the RKYchive team brought to the national competition requires extra care, especially since its target group is coastal communities with diverse needs. Therefore, implementation would begin by studying fishers’ daily lives while gradually introducing knowledge of downstream processing.
“We also involved the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and Gen Z as key pillars of technological progress and business innovation,” he added.
Impactful solution targets extreme coastal poverty
The success of “Pesisir Berdaya” is measured by a decline in extreme poverty, which currently stands at about 17.74 percent (BPS 2023). If the poverty rate declines, the effectiveness of the solution offered by the RKYchive team will be proven in practice.
As the young generation responsible for the sustainability of the nation and the environment, the RKYchive team believes innovation must not stop at the idea stage. Instead, it must make an impact on society through every effort.
“Keep innovating and making an impact on society in whatever way, because young people have a responsibility for the sustainability of the nation and nature. It is not just innovation but solutions that make an impact. Pesisir Berdaya for a sustainable economy,” he concluded.
Author: Amelia Farah P.I
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
