Introduction:

This project introduces an innovative approach to enhancing the livelihoods of small-scale tuna fishers in Indonesia by providing them with access to renewable energy and cold chain solutions. It focuses on deploying solar-powered ice-making machines, coupled with training programs in fish handling, safety at sea, and sanitation and hygiene. By improving the quality and value of their catch, the project aims to increase fishers' income and enhance their resilience to market shocks.   

The Challenge:

Small-scale fisheries in Indonesia, and remote communities around the world, often lack access to electricity, technical knowledge on food safety and fish handling, and cold chain facilities. This results in significant losses in the value of their catch, particularly for high-value species like yellowfin tuna, undermining their livelihoods and economic potential as well as increasing amounts of wasted fish. Additionally, many solar powered ice makers require their battery to be replaced every 3-5 years at great cost, sometimes meaning the machine must be decommissioned after a short period.

The Solution:

Yayasan IPNLF’s solar ice maker addresses these challenges by providing an innovative, off-the-grid, solar-powered ice-making machine to a remote fishing community in Kawa, Seram, East Indonesia. The machine uses innovative energy storage solutions which prolong the lifetime of the battery to an estimated 12-15 years. This is complemented by upskilling fishers through workshops and training in fish handling, cold chain management, and safety at sea.

Why this matters:

This project promotes sustainable fishing practices while also addressing the socioeconomic needs of small-scale fishers. By providing access to renewable energy and cold chain solutions, the project helps to improve the quality and value of the catch, leading to increased income and livelihood resilience for fishers. Additionally, the project's focus on capacity building empowers fishers with the knowledge and skills to manage and commercialize their facilities, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the initiative.   

Results and impact:

In the innovation’s mission to empower small-scale tuna fishers in Indonesia, over 80 fishers have received training and certifications in fish handling, safety at sea, and sanitation and hygiene. The project also successfully installed a solar-powered ice-making machine in Kawa village, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and increasing the quality and value of tuna. This has led to improved food safety standards and greater market opportunities for the fishers. The solar-powered ice-making machine has proven to be highly efficient, producing 1 ton of ice per day while running exclusively on solar energy. This has not only reduced the village's reliance on fossil fuels but has also nearly doubled ice production capacity. Additionally, the machine's operation has eliminated the need for approximately 1,470 plastic bags per ton of ice produced, contributing to a reduction in plastic waste.

Replicate and scale-up:

The project has demonstrated the feasibility of deploying solar-powered ice-making facilities in remote fishing communities. The project's model can be replicated and scaled up to benefit other small-scale fisheries in Indonesia and beyond, promoting sustainable fishing practices and enhancing the livelihoods of fishers.   

Lessons learned:

The project has highlighted the importance of effective communication and clear responsibilities in multi-party projects. It has also emphasized the need for flexibility when engaging with fisheries due to the unpredictable nature of fishing patterns. The project has also underscored the importance of selecting partners that are well-informed and located near the remote community.