The annual Bandeng Jelak Festival in 2024 kicked off on Friday, August 16, 2024, in the courtyard of the Pasuruan City Fisheries Department. This year’s festival began with a morning walk and various activities such as fishing competitions, ornamental fish displays, and the launching of the fish edu park.
The Deputy Mayor of Pasuruan, Adi Wibowo, known affectionately as Mas Adi, officially opened the event with a morning walk that was attended by city officials and students from across Pasuruan. What made this walk special was the route chosen, which was designed to showcase the potential of Pasuruan’s aquaculture industry. Mas Adi and all participants were invited to explore the fish ponds located in the surrounding neighborhoods of the Fisheries Department.
In his opening speech, Mas Adi expressed his appreciation for the event and commended the Fisheries Department for their efforts in educating the public about the fisheries sector. He highlighted the interest shown by many school students in learning about fish farming and commended the department for providing educational opportunities for aspiring aquaculturists.
„This is just the beginning of how we envision the future of Pasuruan’s fisheries sector, which will hopefully lead to advancements and benefits for farmers and fish breeders. Hopefully, this can serve as a model for East Java,“ Mas Adi remarked in reference to the launch of the fish edu park.
Mas Adi emphasized the city government’s responsibility to provide facilities that support the welfare of the community. He hoped that the fish edu park would result in improved livelihoods for fish farmers. „The outputs and outcomes must be measurable, and we have provided the necessary facilities. The goal is for the fish edu park to yield positive results,“ he added.
Furthermore, Mas Adi highlighted the untapped potential of Pasuruan’s fisheries sector and expressed his desire for the fish edu park to become a platform for promoting Pasuruan’s fish products. „From fish farming to post-harvest, we hope to align our strategies with marketing efforts,“ the Deputy Mayor stated.
Overall, the Bandeng Jelak Festival in 2024 not only celebrated Pasuruan’s rich aquaculture heritage but also marked a significant step towards promoting sustainable fisheries practices and enhancing the economic prosperity of the local community. With the launch of the fish edu park, Pasuruan is poised to become a beacon of innovation and excellence in the fisheries sector in East Java.
