A Foundation for Sustainable Snakehead Fish Farming: Strategic and Multisectoral Partnerships

Soppeng, Indonesia – August 7, 2024 – A comprehensive six-party collaboration among three leading academic institutions, a local government, a community organization, and a pharmaceutical company is paving the way for innovation in the snakehead fishery industry in Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi. BINUS University, Hasanuddin University, and Lamappapoleonro University have joined forces with local government, the snakehead fishery community (Masyarakat Ikan Gabus Indonesia/MIGI), and PT Mega Medica Pharmaceuticals (MMP) to explore new avenues for developing functional food products from snakehead fish and to initiate sustainable farming practices.

The collaboration aims to advance technology in snakehead fish farming, with a focus on enhancing efficiency, productivity, and development of downstream products. The discussion hosted by Universitas Lamappapoleonro are attended by Drs. H. Muslimin, M.M. as the Chairman of Lamappapoleonro Soppeng Education Foundation, Dr. Hj. A. Adawiah, S.E., M.M. as the Rector of Lamappapoleonro University, Dr. Asmini, S.E., M.Si. as the Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, and Andi Muhammad Nurul Afdhal, S.E., M.SA., Ak.SAS.CA as the Vice Rector for Finance and Cooperation. The former Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Prof. dr. Irawan Yusuf, Ph.D., and the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Vocational Studies, Hasanuddin University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Zainuddin, M.Si. lead the discussion regarding future potential collaborations. BINUS University is represented by Prof. Dr. Bens Pardamean, the Director of Bioinformatics and Data Science Research Center (BDSRC) as well as Drs. Sutristo as the Director of MMP, and Yunan Rhedian Padmowijoto as the Chairman of MIGI.

The discussion is culminated in a sharing session about improving snakehead fishery practices and products derived from snakehead fish. The speakers are Prof. dr. Irawan Yusuf, Ph.D., Prof. Dr. Ir. Zainuddin, M.Si., Prof. Dr. Bens Pardamean, Drs. Sutristo, Yunan Rhedian Padmowijoto, and Rudi Nirwantono, M.Mol.Bio. In summary, they highlight the future vision for snakehead fish fisheries as well as showcased several success stories and lessons learned from previous other research.

Additionally, a separate discussion session also takes place with the local government officials. The discussion involved H. Andi Kaswadi Razak, S.E. as the Regent of Soppeng Regency, Hisbullah, S.Pi. as the Head of the Fisheries Department of Soppeng Regency. The discussion focuses on the local government’s involvement in program implementation regarding sustainable snakehead fish farming in Soppeng Regency and developing functional food products derived from it.