MDPI and Gorontalo State University Partner to Strengthen Fisheries Research in Gorontalo

_{by M. A. Indira Prameswari}

MDPI has established a partnership with Gorontalo State University (UNG) to strengthen fisheries research in Gorontalo Province. This collaboration was formally marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding during the Regular Meeting of the Fisheries Co-Management Committee (FCMC) Gorontalo on February 13, 2025.

The agreement was signed by MDPI Director Yasmine Simbolon and the Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences at UNG, Yuniarti Koniyo. The collaboration encompasses various initiatives, including joint research projects and internship programs for students.

“MDPI hopes UNG students can play an active role in their region’s fisheries sector, particularly through fieldwork,” said Yasmine.

She further emphasized that the partnership aims to encourage greater youth involvement in fisheries resource management in Gorontalo.

“We are also working to make fisheries data collected over the past three years in Gorontalo City accessible for academic use,” she added.

The Gorontalo Provincial Government, which was also present at the KPBP meeting, welcomed the collaboration. The Head of the Provincial Marine and Fisheries Department, Sila Botutihe, highlighted the importance of research partnerships in supporting data-driven policy decisions for local fisheries management.

Representatives from DKP Gorontalo, MDPI, UNG, and small-scale fishers from Tanjung Kramat, Gorontalo, took a group photo during the FCMC meeting. These four stakeholders play a key role in fisheries data collection and research efforts in the region.

“The unregulated allocation of fish aggregating devices (FADs) in Gorontalo’s waters has been a persistent issue. Research is crucial for developing effective FAD policies, and we hope to see increased collaboration between academics and civil society organizations,” said Botutihe.

Through this partnership, MDPI aims to ensure that collected fisheries data contribute to scientific research and policy recommendations, paving the way for long-term, collaborative studies between MDPI and UNG.

Reinforcing its commitment to data-driven and research-based sustainable fisheries, MDPI also partnered with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in 2024. This collaboration resulted in four co-authored scientific publications with leading Indonesian fisheries and marine experts, underscoring the vital role of research in improving fisheries management across Indonesia.