Fishing community women in Indonesia build livelihoods beyond the daily catch

Women in the Nambangan fishing community of Surabaya, East Java, are processing locally caught seafood into value-added products to secure more stable family incomes. Members of the Indonesian Coastal Women’s Association (KPPI) are working to transform seafood, specifically a signature anchovy known as teri bulu ayam, into goods for wider markets.

The Association International of Charity (AIC) Surabaya supports these women through business mentoring, training, and facility upgrades. On October 26, 2026, the organization inaugurated a renovated food production facility designed to meet food safety standards. The inauguration was attended by Eunice Reyes, the AIC Asia Regional leader, along with representatives from AIC Indonesia and various AIC units.

The program addresses economic challenges faced by fishing families in Nambangan, including climate change, extreme weather, tidal flooding, and coastal development. These factors have reduced fish catches and household earnings. Many families currently rely on middlemen who purchase catches at low prices or use traditional processing methods that offer little financial gain. AIC Surabaya began working with the Nambangan community in mid-2023 to strengthen the economic roles of local women.