Under the SECURE approach, a significant portion of aquaculture areas is maintained or restored as mangrove habitat, functioning as a carbon sink, a natural coastal defense, and a habitat for various important marine species.
MARITIMEPOSTS.COM – June 10, 2026 – The Processing and Marketing Group (Poklahsar) Kerjasama Jaya in Pegat Batumbuk Village, Derawan Island District, Berau Regency, continues to innovate in developing value-added fishery products.
After successfully producing various processed seafood products, this coastal women’s group has now introduced Uludang Crispy, a snack made from shrimp heads—an ingredient that is often underutilized and typically discarded as waste.
The innovation emerged from the group’s efforts to increase the economic value of fishery products while reducing production waste. For Poklahsar Kerjasama Jaya, shrimp heads are no longer a byproduct to be thrown away but a raw material that can be transformed into a marketable product and generate additional income for local families.
Riska Febriani, Chairperson of Poklahsar Kerjasama Jaya, explained that the development of Uludang Crispy was made possible through training and mentoring provided by the Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) and the Berau Fisheries Office under the Solutions for Marine and Coastal Resilience in the Coral Triangle (SOMACORE) program.
“Shrimp heads have often gone unused, even though they still have significant potential as a food product with economic value. Through the support of YKAN and the Berau Fisheries Office, we have been able to turn what was once considered waste into a product that benefits the community,” she said.
Riska added that the group continues to improve both product quality and business management practices.
Today, the products developed by Poklahsar Kerjasama Jaya, including Uludang Crispy, have obtained business permits and halal certification, providing quality assurance and increasing consumer confidence.
Marketing efforts for Uludang Crispy have also expanded. The product is now sold not only in Pegat Batumbuk Village but also in several souvenir shops in Tanjung Redeb, Berau Regency.
Its presence in local gift and souvenir outlets creates opportunities to reach a broader market while introducing coastal community products to visitors and consumers from outside the area.
The process of separating shrimp heads from their bodies. (Photo: Nugroho Ariif Prabowo/YKAN)
Head of the Berau Fisheries Office, Abdul Majid, praised the innovation developed by Poklahsar Kerjasama Jaya. According to him, value-added processing is essential for improving the competitiveness of community-based fisheries enterprises.
“Added value is a crucial factor in developing fisheries businesses. Innovations like this demonstrate that communities can identify opportunities from resources that were previously underutilized. Such initiatives should continue to be encouraged because they provide economic benefits while supporting more sustainable resource management,” he said.
Previously, coastal women from several villages across Berau Regency received training and mentoring from YKAN and the Berau Fisheries Office on business development, product packaging, marketing, financial recordkeeping, and strategies to enhance the competitiveness of local products.
These efforts aim to help community groups build enterprises that are not only economically profitable but also contribute to the conservation of coastal ecosystems.
The initiative also encourages coastal women’s groups to strengthen their business capacities, improve institutional development, create product innovations, and expand market access for sustainably managed coastal-resource-based products.
Supported by formal business licensing, improved packaging, and halal certification, Uludang Crispy is expected to develop into one of Berau’s flagship coastal products capable of competing in regional and national markets.
YKAN Senior Blue Economy Manager, Kiki Anggraini, emphasized that women’s empowerment is a key element in building resilient coastal economies.
“Women play a vital role throughout the fisheries value chain. We want to strengthen their capacity so they can develop sustainable businesses and innovations based on local resources,” she explained.
She added that the innovation aligns with YKAN’s blue economy approach through the Shrimp Carbon Aquaculture (SECURE) concept, which integrates sustainable shrimp farming with the protection and restoration of mangrove ecosystems in coastal areas.
Under the SECURE approach, a significant portion of aquaculture areas is maintained or restored as mangrove habitat, functioning as a carbon sink, a natural coastal defense, and a habitat for various important marine species.
Meanwhile, shrimp farming areas are managed according to more environmentally friendly and sustainable principles. This approach not only delivers ecological benefits but also creates new economic opportunities for local communities.
About YKAN
The Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) is a science-based nonprofit organization that has operated in Indonesia since 2014. YKAN develops innovative solutions to harmonize people and nature through effective natural resource governance, non-confrontational approaches, and broad partnerships with stakeholders to support a sustainable Indonesia.
For more information, visit: www.ykan.or.id.
