Hasanuddin University (Unhas) consistently implements various educational and community service programs that support the sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal tourism. These programs are designed to enhance the knowledge, skills, and capacity of local communities in applying productive, efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable practices for managing aquatic resources. These activities involve faculty members, students, researchers, local government officials, fisherfolk groups, aquaculturists, business operators, and young people across various regions of South Sulawesi.

One such outreach initiative is the “Digitization of Household-Scale Shrimp Hatcheries through the Application of Aquanotes Technology” program at the Puncak Sinunggal Hatchery in Barru Regency. Through this program, Unhas faculty members and students introduced local shrimp hatchery operators to digital systems for monitoring and recording water quality. Participants were trained to observe critical parameters, including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and ammonia, in real time and to use the resulting information to support evidence-based aquaculture decisions. This data-driven approach to aquaculture helps small-scale business operators improve production efficiency while implementing more measurable and sustainable aquaculture practices.

Unhas also strengthens education on coastal ecosystem sustainability through the annual COASTAL 2025 (Clean Up Our Ocean Save Environment) program, organized by the Marine Engineering Student Association (HMTK FT-UH) on Badi Island, Mattiro Deceng Village, Pangkep. The activity combines environmental education with hands-on conservation efforts, including coral transplantation to support the recovery of coral reef ecosystems and beach cleanups to remove inorganic waste. This program raises awareness among students and the community about the importance of maintaining the health of marine and coastal ecosystems as the foundation for sustainable fisheries and marine tourism.

In the field of agriculture-fisheries integration, Unhas Aquaculture Study Program carries out community service in Sipodeceng Village, Sidrap Regency, through the program “Application of Appropriate Technology for Rice-Fish Farming.” The community is introduced to integrated rice–fish farming systems, the use of natural resources and organic waste as feed, and pest control using natural approaches. This program promotes the more optimal and environmentally friendly use of local resources while providing an alternative to increase productivity and economic resilience among rural communities.

Community outreach also addresses the conservation of coastal habitats that underpin fisheries and marine tourism. In Selayar Regency, Unhas SESREG team, in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), organized an educational event for vocational high school students and vocational college students under the theme “Selayar’s Youth: Caring for Seagrass Beds, Caring for Marine Life.” This event highlighted the vital role of seagrass as blue carbon sinks, habitats for various marine species, and protectors of coastal areas against erosion. Engaging young people in environmental education helps build long-term community awareness and participation in the conservation of seagrass ecosystems and the sustainable use of coastal resources. 

Outreach in Selayar Regency also extends to coastal tourism, one of the key livelihoods that depends on healthy marine ecosystems. Selayar is an archipelagic regency in South Sulawesi where communities live in coastal and small-island settings and rely on marine and coastal resources, including fisheries and marine tourism. On 6 October 2025, the Tourism Destination Study Program of Unhas’s Faculty of Vocational Studies conducted a community service activity, “Smart Tourism: Smart Experience & Engagement,” at SMK Negeri 1 Selayar for 40 students of the Tourism Services program. The activity introduced smart tourism concepts and the use of technology in the tourism industry, and the students took part actively in the discussion session. Together with the seagrass education described above, this activity equips young people in a coastal region with both an understanding of marine ecosystems and the skills to develop diversified, marine-based livelihoods, supporting the sustainable use of coastal resources.

These various programs demonstrate that Unhas carries out its educational and community outreach functions not only within the academic environment but also directly with local and regional communities. Through knowledge transfer, skills training, the application of appropriate technology, conservation education, and hands-on field activities, Unhas contributes to building community capacity to manage fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal ecosystems sustainably. A collaborative approach involving academics, students, local governments, community groups, and business stakeholders strengthens Unhas’s role in supporting the sustainable management of aquatic resources while improving the well-being of coastal communities.