On Thursday, July 31, 2025, the Aquaculture Student Association (HIMAKUA) of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Universitas Airlangga, successfully held the HIMAKUA Visit x Aquaculture Field Trip. The activity, a flagship program of the Department of External Relations, was conducted in collaboration with KAKEMA (Student Scientific Studies Forum) as part of a shared commitment to enhance scientific literacy and build student capacity in aquaculture. The field visit took place at two key facilities in East Java—UPT Brackishwater and Marine Aquaculture Center (BAPL) in Bangil and UPT Fish Health and Environmental Laboratory (LKIL) in Pasuruan.
The series of activities began at UPT BAPL Bangil, where participants received an overview of the unit’s organizational structure and operational scope. The session covered comprehensive insights into aquaculture management practices, including brackishwater cultivation systems, maintenance of key commodities such as whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and milkfish (Chanos chanos), and the implementation of biosecurity measures to ensure disease prevention and sustainability. Students were given the opportunity to observe the facility’s production systems firsthand and interact with field experts, providing valuable exposure to real-world aquaculture operations beyond classroom learning.
The visit continued to UPT LKIL Pasuruan, where the focus shifted toward fish health and environmental management. Participants learned about the role of fish health laboratories in disease identification, diagnostic methods, and water quality monitoring techniques. The discussion emphasized the importance of laboratory-based research in supporting sustainable aquaculture and preventing large-scale losses caused by aquatic diseases. Students also observed diagnostic equipment and laboratory procedures that contribute to effective biosecurity and ecosystem stability, further strengthening their understanding of the interconnectedness between environmental health and aquaculture productivity.
Throughout the event, participants showed great enthusiasm and actively engaged with the resource persons at both institutions. The activity not only provided an empirical learning experience aligned with the academic objectives of the Aquaculture Department but also fostered collaboration between HIMAKUA, KAKEMA, and related institutional partners. By bridging academic theory with practical exposure, HIMAKUA Visit x Aquaculture Field Trip serves as a strategic platform to cultivate applied knowledge, collaborative research, and professional networking in the field of aquaculture. The program ultimately reflects Universitas Airlangga’s vision to produce competent, adaptive, and innovative graduates who contribute to advancing sustainable fisheries and marine science in Indonesia.
