Downstream Innovation and the Application of the Education Industry to Encourage the Sustainability of Bengkulu's Typical Smoked Fish Business

On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, a community service activity was held with the topic of downstream innovation and the application of the education industry to encourage the sustainability of the Bengkulu smoked fish business in Kandang Limun Village, Muara Bangka Hulu District, Bengkulu Province. This activity was carried out by lecturers from the University of Bengkulu, namely Selly Ratna Sari, S.Pi., M.Si., Dr. Fitri Electrica Dewi Surawan, S.Tp., M.Sc., Woki Bilyaro, S.Pt., M.Si., Reny Agustin Sihombing and attended by the women of the Bengkulu Salai Fish Group in Kandang Limun Village, Muara Bangka Hulu District

The Bengkulu smoked fish business is a productive community group that processes and sells smoked fish, with superior products in the form of smoked catfish from cultivation and marine fisheries in Bengkulu Province. This activity was carried out because there were still various problems, such as smoking equipment that was difficult to move and reach, products that did not have functional value, and businesses that only focused on sales without education to consumers. The participants of the activity consisted of members of the Bengkulu smoked fish group and local residents, while the implementers of the activity were a collaborative service team of agricultural and livestock industry technology lecturers. This activity took place in Bengkulu through the stages of training, mentoring, to monitoring and evaluation. The methods used include the introduction of natural preservatives in the form of gambier to improve the quality and shelf life of smoked fish, training in making smoked fish with quality standards, the use of portable smoke cabinets, providing information related to raw materials for fishery products, and digital marketing training. Through this activity, the Bengkulu smoked fish group understands the use of natural preservatives so that the product is more functional, able to produce quality smoked fish with appropriate tools, and has basic information that can be developed towards the education industry.