Salemo Island, Pangkep— The Capture Fisheries Study Program, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable fisheries resource management through the installation of the Prototype Blue Swimming Crab Habitat (HARUKA) in the waters surrounding Salemo Island, Pangkajene and Islands Regency (Pangkep), South Sulawesi, Indonesia, from July 24 to 26, 2026.

This initiative represents an effort to develop an artificial habitat that serves as a shelter for the blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus). The prototype is expected to improve habitat quality, support the recovery of blue swimming crab stocks, and strengthen the sustainability of coastal fisheries resources. The installation team consisted of lecturers from the Capture Fisheries Study Program of Hasanuddin University, including Prof. Dr. Ir. Najamuddin, M.Sc., Abduh Ibnu Hajar, S.Pi., M.Sc., Ph.D., Muhammad Kurnia, S.Pi., M.Sc., Ph.D., and Baso Aswar, S.Pi., M.Si. The activity was also supported by teaching assistants Dhiaz Erlangga, S.Pi., M.Si., and Ikhsan Amir, S.Pi., M.Si., as well as undergraduate students Erik, Isral, and Rafly, who actively participated in the preparation, transportation, and installation of the HARUKA prototype at the deployment site.

The successful implementation of this activity was made possible through close collaboration with local stakeholders and the surrounding community. The installation team was assisted by Mr. Ibrahim, Mr. Daeng Ledeng, and Mr. Daeng Rate, whose extensive local knowledge and experience played a crucial role in selecting suitable deployment sites and facilitating the installation process in the waters of Salemo Island. Throughout the three-day activity, the team carried out a series of field operations, including prototype preparation and inspection, site surveys, deployment of the artificial habitat on the seabed, and documentation of the environmental conditions as part of the initial monitoring program. The installation sites were carefully selected based on the ecological characteristics of blue swimming crab habitats, local oceanographic conditions, and recommendations provided by experienced local fishers.

The Prototype Blue Swimming Crab Habitat (HARUKA) was designed as an innovative artificial shelter that provides refuge for blue swimming crabs from environmental stressors and natural predators. Beyond functioning as an artificial habitat, HARUKA is also intended to serve as a research platform for evaluating the effectiveness of habitat enhancement in supporting the abundance and distribution of blue swimming crabs in coastal ecosystems.

Through this initiative, the Capture Fisheries Study Program of Hasanuddin University highlights the importance of collaboration among universities, local communities, and other stakeholders in developing research-based innovations that contribute to sustainable fisheries management. Moving forward, the HARUKA prototype will be continuously monitored to assess its effectiveness as an alternative habitat for blue swimming crabs and to provide scientific evidence for the development of conservation technologies that can be implemented in coastal areas across Indonesia. This initiative is expected to serve as an important step toward promoting sustainable blue swimming crab fisheries, maintaining the ecological balance of coastal ecosystems, and improving the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities through the responsible utilization of marine resources.