<![CDATA[The cold chain plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality and freshness of fishery products from the harvesting process through to final distribution. In the coastal area of Lhok Kuala Bubon, West Aceh Regency, most small-scale fishers still rely on conventional ice blocks as their primary cooling medium. However, the rapid melting of ice reduces cooling efficiency, ultimately leading to a decline in fish quality. This community service program aimed to enhance the knowledge and practical skills of fishers through education on the application of cold chain technology using innovative ice gel as a more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly cooling alternative. The program was implemented through a series of activities, including socialization, technology demonstrations, and hands-on training in the preparation and application of ice gel. The evaluation results showed that participants' knowledge improvement achieved a satisfaction score of 4.56, which falls within the very good category. Furthermore, the implementation of ice gel reduced fishing operational costs by approximately IDR 220,000 per fishing trip compared with the use of conventional ice. These findings indicate that education based on simple, appropriate, and practical technology can serve as an effective strategy for improving the quality of fish catches while simultaneously supporting the economic sustainability of coastal communities.Rantai dingin (cold chain) memiliki peran krusial dalam mempertahankan mutu dan kesegaran produk perikanan sejak proses penangkapan hingga tahap distribusi akhir. Kawasan pesisir Lhok Kuala Bubon, Kabupaten Aceh Barat, sebagian besar nelayan tradisional masih mengandalkan penggunaan es batu konvensional sebagai media pendingin. Namun, karakteristik es batu yang mudah mencair menyebabkan penurunan efektivitas pendinginan, yang pada akhirnya berdampak terhadap penurunan kualitas ikan. Kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kapasitas pengetahuan dan keterampilan nelayan melalui edukasi penerapan teknologi rantai dingin berbasis inovasi ice gel sebagai alternatif pendingin yang lebih efisien, ekonomis, dan ramah lingkungan. Pendekatan kegiatan dilakukan melalui tahapan sosialisasi, demonstrasi teknologi, serta pelatihan pembuatan dan aplikasi ice gel di lapangan. Berdasarkan hasil evaluasi kepuasan peningkatan pengetahuan nelayan sebesar 4.56 dengan kategori sangat baik. Selain itu, penerapan ice gel terbukti mampu menurunkan biaya melaut sehingga Rp 220.000/trip dibandingkan dengan penggunaan es batu konvensional. Temuan tersebut mengindikasikan bahwa edukasi berbasis teknologi tepat guna yang sederhana namun aplikatif dapat menjadi strategi efektif dalam peningkatan mutu hasil tangkapan sekaligus mendukung keberlanjutan ekonomi masyarakat pesisir.]]>
