Students of Universitas Gadjah Mada are involved in optimising fishery resource management of Jerowaru district in East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.
In a Student Community Service programme, the UGM students assisted the residents of Seriwe and Ekas Buana villages Lombok Timur in optimising the fishery resource and tourism management that is sustainable based on local wisdom.
One of the students, Bias Osean Ali, said the programme aimed at improving the welfare of the residents by optimising the natural potential, especially fishery and tourism.
"Therefore, we conduct community empowerment programme in order to improve the capacity of the people in agriculture sector that covers fishery and tourism potential,” he said in a release received on Wednesday (21/8).
To carry out the programme, the students assisted the residents in processing the fishery products, for example diversification of processed products such as seaweed cakes, tuna meatball, nugget and floss, and corn milk. Besides, the students introduced fishing tools to the fish farmers, gave training on seaweed cultivation as well as product packaging.
“We also conduct cattle surveys as well as giving vitamins and anthelmintics to the cattle,” he added.
In order to support the district in tourism sector, construction of supporting infrastructure was also done. These included lobster landmark making, tourism attraction construction such as beach swing, benches, photo spot, and garbage bins around the beach.
In addition, to raise the tourism potential of the district, a festival was held, opened by Head of East Lombok Tourism Agency. The festival was enlivened with traditional performances such as Gendang Beleq and Persesean.