Batang – Dukuh Roban Timur is known as one of the coastal areas in Batang Regency. Therefore, it is not surprising that the majority of its residents work as fishermen, with relatively high catches. These catches are usually auctioned directly at the Roban Timur Fish Auction Place (TPI). This makes sales at the TPI the main source of income for the local community. Sometimes, local residents look for other jobs to meet their daily needs if the sales at the TPI are still not enough.

Based on this reality, students of the Thematic Community Service Program (KKN-T) Group 3 of Diponegoro University held a program entitled “Innovation and Demonstration of Processing Gelagah Anchovies into Shredded Fish as a Roban Timur Specialty Product to Improve the Local Circular Economy” which was carried out on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at the Roban Timur Fish Auction Place (TPI). This activity is in line with the theme of the group’s multidisciplinary program related to women’s empowerment through entrepreneurship development and access to local markets. The program involved students from Economics, Psychology, Nursing, Chemistry, Law, Agroecotechnology, Industrial Engineering, Communication Science, and English Literature.

Economics students delivered education on economic potential, Psychology students explained the importance of internal motivation for entrepreneurship, Nursing students explained “My Plate” and the nutrition contained in shredded fish, Chemistry students explained the importance of using natural ingredients in cooking, and several students conducted a demonstration on making shredded fish. Participants were very enthusiastic about this program, especially during the shredded fish-making demonstration. Some participants even helped with the shredded fish-making process.

In order for this shredded fish to become a sustainable business for residents and a signature product of Roban Timur, Law and Agroecotechnology students provided education on business license registration procedures and giving logos to packaging, Communication Science and Industrial Engineering students provided education on promotional media and marketing strategies so that shredded fish could become a promising and sustainable business opportunity. Meanwhile, English Literature students contributed by making a bilingual promotional video (Indonesian–English), as well as giving a brief explanation of the importance of promotional videos in expanding product marketing reach, especially in today’s digital era. Participants enthusiastically followed the activity until it ended.

After participating in this activity, many participants became educated that their catches could be processed into shredded fish and have a higher selling value. “After this, I want to try practicing making this shredded fish. I never thought that gelagah fish or meaty and fibrous fish could be processed into shredded fish,” said Roh, one of the residents of Dukuh Roban Timur.

Undip students hope that with this program, the people of Dukuh Roban Timur will be able to process their marine catches into products with higher selling value using simple and natural ingredients, as well as foster the entrepreneurial spirit of the Roban Timur community starting from the things around them.
“We packaged this activity into several sessions, so participants can understand in more detail the stages of business development itself,” said Raihan.

The Field Supervisor (DPL) of group 3, Prof. Dr. Waridin, M.S. and dr. Dinda Saraswati, Sp.D. also appreciated the idea presented by group 3 because the main ingredients used matched the marine catches in Dukuh Roban Timur.

The Thematic KKN Team 1 of Diponegoro University is divided into five groups. In Team 1, there are several KKL Supervising Lecturers, namely, Prof. Dr. Indah Susilowati, M.Sc., Prof. Dr. Waridin, M.S., Prof. Dr. Nugroho, SBM., M.Si., Dr. Hapsar, M.Si., Dr. Ita Widowati, M.Sc., dr. Fathur Nur Kholis, Sp.D., dr. Dinda Saraswati, Sp.D., dr. Ika Vemilllia, Sp.D., dr. Rizky Rakhmayanti, Sp.D., and dr. Prisca Luftia Rani, Sp.D.