Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia will launch a nationwide aquaculture expansion program in 2026 covering 40,000 thematic villages to boost protein self-sufficiency, improve livelihoods and expand fish and shrimp exports.Aquaculture Director General Haeru Rahayu said Wednesday that the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry was coordinating with the Home Affairs Ministry, Villages Ministry and regional governments.“We are collaborating with all ministries and agencies,” Rahayu said.He said the aquaculture village program differs from the Red and White Fishing Villages program, which focuses on strengthening the capture fisheries sector.“This initiative is not part of the KNMP program,” Rahayu said, referring to the Red and White Fishing Villages program.The government sees rural aquaculture as key to increasing protein production, expanding fish exports and improving welfare nationwide, he said.Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan highlighted the program after meeting Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono in Jakarta on Tuesday.“We held a coordination meeting to oversee and support the Red and White Fishing Villages program and plans to develop aquaculture in 40,000 villages,” Hasan said.Hasan said the two programs would help expand Indonesia’s self-sufficiency beyond carbohydrate-based commodities, in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s directives.The government aims not only to meet domestic demand but also expand overseas sales, turning Indonesia into a global powerhouse in fish and shrimp production, Hasan said.The aquaculture program will cover various fish species, with the fisheries ministry providing fingerlings, Hasan said. “People will be talking about fish every day within a year. The program will start soon.”