Aquaculture Festival (AQUAFEST) 2025 marked the inaugural flagship program of the Department of Arts, Interests, and Talents (Semikat) of the Aquaculture Student Association (HIMAKUA), Universitas Airlangga. Designed as a platform for expression, creativity, and community engagement, the event brought together aquaculture students and the wider public through a Regional East Java Aquascape Competition. As a creative academic initiative, AQUAFEST aimed to bridge student enthusiasm in aquaculture with the public’s growing interest in fisheries, aquatic landscape art, and aquaculture-based innovation.
AQUAFEST 2025 was held on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Building B, 3rd Floor, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPK), Universitas Airlangga, Campus C. The event ran from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (WIB) and welcomed six participants from outside Universitas Airlangga who competed in the aquascape contest. Their participation added significant value to the program by expanding inter-institutional networks, increasing public engagement, and introducing the Aquaculture Study Program to a broader audience. The event was led by Akbar Maulana Satrio Utomo as Chairperson of AQUAFEST 2025, who coordinated the entire program alongside the organizing committee from the Semikat Department. Through this initiative, HIMAKUA not only facilitated a competitive artistic platform but also reinforced the academic visibility of FPK Unair within the regional aquaculture community.
The event was structured into several well-organized sessions, reflecting both academic discipline and creative dynamism. Activities began with committee preparations and a jury briefing, followed by participant mobilization and an opening session featuring remarks from the organizing chair and academic representatives. The core of the event consisted of the aquascape setup session, during which participants demonstrated technical skill, aesthetic sensitivity, and ecological understanding in designing underwater landscapes. After a break (ishoma), the judging process was conducted by appointed evaluators who assessed creativity, layout composition, plant selection, sustainability principles, and overall presentation. The program concluded with the announcement of winners, award presentations, documentation sessions, and a formal closing. All activities proceeded smoothly and according to schedule, highlighting the committee’s effective planning and coordination.
The idea behind AQUAFEST originated from HIMAKUA’s aspiration to create a creative event capable of serving as positive branding for the Aquaculture Study Program at Universitas Airlangga. By organizing an aquascape competition, the committee sought to provide a participatory space for students and the general public to showcase creativity, innovation, and environmental awareness within the framework of aquaculture. Aquascaping, as an applied art form rooted in aquatic ecosystem principles, aligns closely with academic learning in fisheries science, environmental management, and sustainable resource utilization. Therefore, AQUAFEST was not merely a competition, but also a form of community engagement and educational outreach that reflected FPK Unair’s commitment to integrating academic knowledge with societal benefit.
The successful implementation of AQUAFEST 2025 is expected to serve as the foundation for a larger and more vibrant annual festival in the coming years, attracting participants from various regions beyond East Java. Furthermore, the event is anticipated to strengthen HIMAKUA’s institutional image while fostering mutual collaboration between organizers, participants, and the public. The high level of enthusiasm observed during this first edition demonstrates strong potential for continuity and growth. Moving forward, AQUAFEST is envisioned as a sustainable academic-cultural platform that consistently promotes creativity, innovation, and artistic appreciation within the field of aquaculture, reinforcing FPK Unair’s role in advancing both scientific excellence and community empowerment.
