The activity was preceded by a meeting between Mr. Maulana Firdaus, Ph.D., Chief of SEAFDEC/IFRDMD, and Mr. Rezki Anthoni, Head of RIIFE. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss potential areas of cooperation, particularly the further development of the Keramasan Installation as a venue for capacity-building activities implemented by SEAFDEC/IFRDMD in collaboration with fisheries extension officers under RIIFE.
The discussion highlighted the potential of Keramasan to support a continous learning cycle through practical learning, demonstration activities, and knowledge exchange related to inland fisheries and freshwater fish aquaculture. Through closer collaboration with fisheries extension officers, the installation is expected to provide an environment where technical knowledge and good practices can be demonstrated, tested, learned, and adapted before being disseminated and replicated by fisheries communities.
As a concrete step supporting the development of the installation, the afternoon program continued with the stocking of giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy) broodstock into ponds at the Keramasan Installation. The broodstock is expected to support future aquaculture demonstration and learning activities, including broodstock management, breeding, and other practical aspects of freshwater aquaculture. These activities can also serve as hands-on learning modules for fisheries extension officers, practitioners, and other stakeholders.
The activity reflects the continuing commitment of RIIFE-MMAF and SEAFDEC/IFRDMD to strengthen institutional collaboration and develop practical platforms for capacity building in inland fisheries. By combining RIIFE’s fisheries extension network and field facilities with SEAFDEC/IFRDMD’s regional experience and technical programs, the collaboration is expected to contribute to a stronger learning and knowledge-transfer mechanism, linking research and technology with demonstration, training, adoption, and replication of of sustainable inland fisheries and aquaculture practices.
The initiative also represents another step toward developing Keramasan as a practical learning center that can support not only national fisheries extension activities but also future SEAFDEC/IFRDMD capacity-building programs and regional knowledge exchange.