MARITIMEPOSTS.COM – Berau, East Kalimantan, July 25, 2026 – The Berau Regency Government, in collaboration with the Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), organized a seminar titled “Empowering Coastal Women: Harnessing Local Potential, Strengthening Family Economies.”
The initiative aimed to enhance women’s capacity to manage household finances, develop local economic opportunities, and strengthen the economic resilience of families whose livelihoods depend on the sustainability of coastal ecosystems, particularly mangrove forests.
The seminar was held in Pegat Batumbuk Village on July 21, 2026, and in Tabalar Muara Village on July 23, 2026, bringing together approximately 150 participants in each village.
The events were designed to broaden the program’s reach and ensure more equitable access to its benefits for coastal communities.
For the people of Berau’s coastal areas, mangrove ecosystems are vital in supporting fisheries and aquaculture, which serve as their primary sources of livelihood. However, household incomes often fluctuate due to seasonal changes and unpredictable fishing and harvest yields. Under these circumstances, women play a critical role in maintaining family economic resilience.
Through the seminar, participants gained practical skills in household financial management, learned to identify legitimate financial services, explored entrepreneurship opportunities, and developed a deeper understanding that long-term economic well-being is inseparable from the sustainable management of coastal ecosystems.
In Pegat Batumbuk and Tabalar Muara, women’s groups have developed various value-added businesses based on aquaculture products, including processing shrimp and milkfish into marketable food products. They are also actively involved in sustainable shrimp farming by converting organic waste into compost and locally produced microorganisms (MOL), supporting more environmentally responsible aquaculture practices.
Head of the Berau Regency Office for Village Community Empowerment, Tenteram Rahayu, emphasized that strengthening women’s capacity is an essential component of regional development, particularly in coastal communities. According to her, financial literacy provides an important foundation for fishing and aquaculture households whose incomes are heavily influenced by seasonal conditions.
“Women make a significant contribution to maintaining family economic resilience. The Berau Regency Government is committed to supporting various empowerment programs that enhance women’s capacity to productively and sustainably manage local resources. As women become more empowered, the well-being of families and communities will also grow stronger,” she said.
In addition to financial literacy, the seminar covered access to financing, entrepreneurship development, women’s roles in disaster risk reduction, and sustainable coastal management.
The event also created opportunities for community groups that had not previously received assistance from YKAN, enabling them to access information, capacity-building activities, and business development opportunities.
“This seminar broadened our understanding that women are not only responsible for managing household finances but can also develop businesses based on local resources. We also now realize that protecting mangroves and coastal ecosystems means safeguarding our families’ future sources of income,” said Hasnah, a member of the Mandiri Fish Processing and Marketing Group (Poklahsar) in Tabalar Muara Village.
The seminar forms part of YKAN’s broader efforts, in collaboration with local and village governments, to strengthen the empowerment of coastal women through the Solutions for Marine and Coastal Resilience in the Coral Triangle (SOMACORE) Program in Berau Regency.
The initiative also contributes to the KONEKSI Program, supported by the Governments of Australia and Indonesia, with the involvement of Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to strengthen learning, research, and knowledge development for inclusive and sustainable development.
Conservation and Women’s Empowerment Go Hand in Hand
Working alongside the Berau Regency Government and various partners, YKAN implements community-based conservation initiatives, including mangrove protection and restoration, sea turtle monitoring, strengthening coastal governance, and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
Women are encouraged to participate not only as beneficiaries but also as decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and natural resource managers within their communities.
Muhammad Ilman, Marine Program Director at YKAN, said that strengthening women’s capacity is an integral part of ensuring the long-term sustainability of coastal ecosystems.
He noted that the initiative is also part of the KONEKSI Program, supported by the Governments of Australia and Indonesia and implemented with BRIN to promote research, learning, and knowledge-sharing for inclusive and sustainable development.
“Conservation is not only about protecting coastal ecosystems but also about ensuring that the communities who depend on them can achieve better livelihoods. When women have access to knowledge, business opportunities, and sound financial management, they become agents of change within their families and communities. That is why YKAN promotes an integrated approach that combines conservation with community economic empowerment so that its benefits can be sustained over the long term,” he explained.
Through the seminar, YKAN hopes that more coastal women will be equipped to manage household finances effectively, develop businesses based on local resources, and play an active role in protecting mangrove ecosystems that sustain coastal communities.
