Empowering Women, Enhancing Sustainable Fisheries: The Walton Family Foundation Visits Central Java to the CTC Blue Swimming Crab Site

On April 13–15, 2025, CTC and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) facilitated a learning visit to Central Java for the Walton Family Foundation (WFF). The visit aimed to assess the impact of WFF’s support to Blue Swimming Crab (BSC) management and explore future collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) and support groups. The journey through Semarang, Rembang, and Jepara offered an up-close look at local innovations and capacity-building efforts within the BSC supply chain.

A highlight of the visit was the stop in Gedongmulyo Village, where women’s Blue Swimming Crab (BSC) groups showcased their training capabilities through dynamic role-play activities. These engaging sessions left a strong impression on both WFF and SFP representatives, highlighting the value of community-led education in driving sustainable fisheries management. Since 2022, with support from WFF, CTC has expanded its BSC fisheries management initiatives to include women fishers in Gedongmulyo Village, Rembang District. The impressive training demonstrations witnessed during the visit are a direct result of this support, reflecting the growing leadership and capacity of local women in advancing BSC fisheries in their communities.

Following the field visit, a discussion was held with the Department of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (DKP) in Semarang to develop a BSC committee repository—a digital library designed to improve information management and heighten the visibility of fisheries group profiles. CTC remains committed to refining the structure based on stakeholder input and will host a follow-up workshop in June 2025 to ensure the platform serves the needs of all involved. 

Writes: Adam Putra, Wienda Ardiyani, Silvia Timotius
Photos: Wienda Ardiyani/CTC