UNAIR NEWS – As one of Indonesia’s leading universities, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) consistently upholds the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, which includes community service. In line with this commitment, the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPK) at UNAIR conducted a community service initiative in Rangkah Village, Tambaksari Subdistrict, Surabaya, on Tuesday (October 22, 2024). This initiative aimed to encourage local residents to develop biofloc aquaculture.
The community service team comprised Andini Ariani Carolina, Vito Reyner Adriananda, Mochammad Ramadhany Rahmansyah, and Alifia Rizky Faradisa, supervised by Dr. Woro Hastuti Satyantini, Ir., M.Si. This initiative was motivated by FPK’s participation in the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) exhibition at UNAIR.
Collaborating with the PKM FLO-RETECH team, the program focused on raising awareness about the importance of regular water quality monitoring in biofloc systems, which plays a crucial role in sustainable aquaculture. In addition to educational outreach, the FPK team provided the FLO-RETECH device free of charge to facilitate periodic water quality monitoring and enhance aquaculture efficiency.
Background of initiative
Carolina, the program’s lead coordinator, explained that the initiative was prompted by challenges faced by Rangkah Village residents engaged in biofloc aquaculture. Many fish farmers in the area frequently encountered high mortality rates among their cultivated fish due to difficulties in monitoring biofloc pond water quality.
Moreover, the accumulation of leftover feed in the ponds contributed to increased ammonia levels, further jeopardizing the health of the aquatic environment. To address these challenges, the FPK team conducted a comprehensive outreach program on proper biofloc aquaculture techniques. Additionally, they provided tools to help farmers monitor water quality ratios more effectively.
“Through this program, we aim to assist local fish farmers in optimizing biofloc aquaculture efficiency using the correct techniques. We are also open to engaging other residents who have shown great interest in this initiative. Some have even expressed their eagerness to start biofloc aquaculture themselves,” Andini stated.
Alignment with SDGs
This community service initiative aligns with four key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
“Every aspect of this initiative is structured around SDG principles. The outcomes of this program will be showcased at the SDGs Exhibition. For example, Goal 8, which emphasizes decent work and economic growth, aligns with our hope that this initiative will enhance the economic well-being of Rangkah’s residents,” Carolina explained.
Program outcomes
The FPK community service team conducted educational sessions on biofloc aquaculture, optimal water quality parameters, and the use of the FLO-RETECH device for water quality monitoring. The objective of these sessions was to improve efficiency in biofloc aquaculture, ultimately leading to higher profitability for local farmers.
Furthermore, this initiative, which commenced in August, will continue to monitor the progress of partner farmers and assess its impact on the local economy. This ongoing engagement underscores the FPK team’s commitment to addressing real-world challenges and fostering sustainable community development.
Penulis: Rifki Sunarsis Ari Adi
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
