Social outreach to support local fishermen in Indonesia and Malaysia

ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc’s (EMEPMI) offshore platforms and related facilities in Indonesia and Malaysia are located near areas frequently visited by local fishermen. Social outreach efforts in both countries reduce the potential risks of fishing near oil and gas operations.

For example, in 2016, EMEPMI joined the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to engage local members of a village in Terengganu, Malaysia, where fishermen represent around 40 percent of the population. The initiative, known as Sahabat Maritim or Maritime Mate, consisted of a two-day outreach program designed to increase safety awareness and strengthen relationships with members of the local community.

Community engagement activities included a “gotong-royong” — or voluntary community clean-up — to refurbish the local jetty where fishermen can dock or moor their boats. EMEPMI volunteers also distributed educational brochures that illustrate the 500-meter restricted zone around platforms, conducted a series of talks and exhibitions on safely fishing near offshore operations and provided attendees with life jackets. In response to Sahabat Maritim and other such education initiatives, the number of fishing vessel encroachments at our platforms in the region has been reduced by almost 60 percent in the last three years.