He is a Klaner — a term affectionately used for students and alumni of Marine Science at Hasanuddin University — who completed his undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries before later pursuing a master’s degree in Tropical Marine Economics.
MARITIMEPOSTS.COM – Amid the growing discourse on Indonesia’s future as a maritime nation, the name Auliansyah emerges as a representation of a new generation of marine scholars who no longer view the ocean merely as a geographical landscape, but as the center of civilization, a source of life, and a strategic foundation for national development.
He grew up within the coastal world of western Sulawesi, back when the region was still administratively part of South Sulawesi. He explored the ocean not only physically, but intellectually.
His journey reflects how science, environmental awareness, and a vision for development can converge into a unified path of dedication.
As an academic at the Development Economics Study Program, Faculty of Economics and Business, Mulawarman University, Auliansyah has taken an unconventional path.
His academic roots lie in marine science, a discipline that shaped his perspective on the relationship between humans and nature.
He is a Klaner — the nickname for Marine Science students of Hasanuddin University — who completed his undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries before deepening his expertise in Tropical Marine Economics at the master’s level.
From this academic synthesis emerged the distinctive perspective that defines him today: seeing the ocean not merely as a biological ecosystem, but as strategic economic capital whose sustainability must be protected.
For Auliansyah, maritime development cannot stop at resource extraction alone. The ocean must be recognized as natural capital possessing ecological, social, and economic value simultaneously.
This perspective led him to become actively involved in various research initiatives and sustainable development programs, ranging from coral reef restoration and village economic development to marine resource accounting.
He believes Indonesia’s future depends greatly on the nation’s ability to measure, protect, and utilize marine wealth scientifically and equitably.
His commitment to the underwater world extends far beyond academia.
As an internationally certified SSI professional scuba instructor, Auliansyah understands the ocean directly from depths few people ever experience.
He has been involved in numerous diving specializations, including coral reef restoration, science of diving, and underwater rescue. These field experiences gave him a strong conviction that marine policy must be built upon real ecological understanding, not merely statistics discussed at bureaucratic tables.
Shining Through YEKHALI
His dedication became even more visible through the establishment of the Indonesian Marine Biodiversity Economics Foundation (YEKHALI), an institution he founded to bridge conservation efforts with the economic development of coastal communities.
Through this foundation, he promotes a blue economy approach that positions biodiversity protection as a long-term investment.
For him, protecting coral reefs is not only about saving fish and marine species, but also about securing the future of food, tourism, and the welfare of Indonesian society.
Throughout his professional career, Auliansyah has also been involved in numerous national and international collaborations.
He became part of the “Grow and Green” ecosystem restoration program across several regions of eastern Indonesia, participated in the Economic Innovation Partnership Program between Indonesia and the Republic of Korea, and actively contributed to economic studies surrounding the buffer regions of Indonesia’s future capital city, Nusantara.
His involvement in Ocean Accounting analysis alongside Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and USAID demonstrates his capacity to connect marine science with modern economic policy grounded in data and sustainability.
Behind all of these academic and professional achievements, Auliansyah still sees himself primarily as a lifelong student of the sea. For him, the ocean continuously teaches lessons about balance, perseverance, and humility.
He believes Indonesia’s younger generation must begin viewing the maritime sector as a space for future innovation — not merely as fishermen or mining workers, but as scientists, technological innovators, environmental economists, and guardians of maritime civilization.
Auliansyah’s journey illustrates how one individual can weave together scientific knowledge, field experience, and a vision for development into a unified life of service.
Amid the challenges of climate change, resource exploitation, and unequal coastal development, he has chosen to stand at the forefront in defending the ocean as the foundation of Indonesia’s future.
For Auliansyah, protecting the sea is more than a profession. It is a way of protecting life itself, safeguarding future generations, and ensuring that Indonesia remains a sovereign maritime nation with a sustainable future.
— Editorial Team