Fishermen’s Cooperative Strengthened Through Financial Training and Equipment Support

Surabaya – Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) in collaboration with Yayasan Mandiri Ukhuwah Persada, has successfully implemented a program to strengthen financial management in Koperasi Nelayan 64 Bahari, located in Nambangan and Cumpat, Kedung Cowek Sub-District, Kenjeran, Surabaya. The program, funded by UNAIR’s annual community service budget, aimed to improve the accountability and sustainability of the fishermen’s cooperative, which has grown rapidly since its establishment in 2017 .

The cooperative had previously struggled with manual bookkeeping due to limited knowledge among its management, most of whom have a high school education or less. To address this, the UNAIR team developed an accounting system using Excel and provided intensive training on preparing cooperative financial reports. The training covered essential reports such as the Sisa Hasil Usaha (SHU), balance sheets, cash flow statements, and changes in capital.

In addition to training, the team also donated a freezer and facilitated the installation of an independent electricity connection for the cooperative’s operations. The freezer was deemed vital to help fishermen preserve their catches such as snapper, shrimp, shellfish, and crabs, so they could sell directly to the market without relying solely on middlemen. This move is expected to improve product quality and increase income for local fishermen .

The program produced several key outcomes, including scientific and media publications, training modules, and video documentation. Most importantly, it enhanced the cooperative’s ability to independently manage its financial reporting, while also opening new opportunities for selling fresh fish directly to consumers in Surabaya.