We are pleased to announce the publication of six research papers by our Indonesian Marine Fellows through our Marine Fellowship Program. These publications mark the end of a two-year capacity building process in which CSF-Indonesia supported six local research teams to develop, conduct, and write on important, timely issues in fisheries and marine management, with a focus on the social and economic consequences of management policies. Each research team has made recommendations towards improving livelihoods for fishers, ecosystems for fish, and the overall wellbeing of Indonesia as a nation. We invite you to read the summaries of each paper below, and follow the links to read the full studies.

Investing in fisheries management: assessment of FADs and unreported catch

By: Widhya Nugroho Satrioajie and Shinta Yuniarta (English, Indonesian)

Indonesian fishers have been using anchored Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) since the 1980s, and the use of FADs plays a pivotal role in supporting fishing activities, especially for tuna and other pelagic species. FADs increase the efficiency of fishing activities, but can also potentially increase fishing pressure on oceanic tuna stocks and the pelagic ecosystem. Therefore, management of FADs-based fisheries is necessary to protect fish stock from overexploitation. This study conducted a FAD assessment by incorporating the value of unreported catch, conducting simulations of policy, and generating a production function based on logbook data.

The socio-economic impact of the policy prohibiting trawling on the North coast of Java

By: Benny Osta Nababan, Akhmad Solihin, and Yoppie Christian (Indonesian)

In 2016, the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries declared the Java Sea to be fully exploited. Illegal fishing has played an important role in reduced productivity of the Java Sea ecosystem, as well as increasing conflict among fishers. In response, the government banned the use of trawlers and trawl nets in the Java Sea, but the policy was not accompanied by a study of the potential impacts on the fishing industry or marine ecology. Previous research indicates that such a ban will result in increased unemployment and crime, and a decrease in catch. This study analyzed the social and economic effects of the trawl ban, and provides ideas the government could use to mitigate these effects.

Calculation model of economic losses due to illegal fishing activities in Indonesian territorial waters

By: Aulia Riza Farhan, R. Bambang Aditya, Dendi Mahabror, Romy Adrianto, and Kalu Nicolaus Naibaho (English)

Combating Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing in Indonesia has been an important part of the government’s activities since 2014. Unfortunately, the economic losses and impacts from illegal fishing activities had not been assessed previously. This study calculated the economic losses incurred by illegal fishing activities by foreign vessels in Indonesian waters, and evaluated the actions of the Indonesian government to mitigate these losses.

Economic consequences of climate variability in sardine fisheries in the Bali Strait

By: Reny Purpasari, Siti Hajar Suryawati, Puput F. Rachmawati, and Maulana Fidaus (English)

The sardine fishery contributes around 60% of fish landings in the Bali Strait.  Sardine populations go through seasonal fluctuations, and are influenced by variations in temperature and chlorophyll-a. Extreme changes in climate conditions could drastically alter those two variables, and by association, sardine populations. This study aimed to assess the impact of a changing environment on the sardine fishery in the Bali Strait by looking at both the ecological and socio-economic effects of climate variability. The results showed that climate variability affected the temperature dynamic of Bali Strait and was positively correlated with fluctuations in sardine production.

Identification and strategy for the development of alternative livelihoods for local communities in the Depapre Bay Conservation Area

By: Yunus Pajanjan Paulangan, M. Arsyad Amin, and Yudi Wahyudin (English, Indonesian)

The Indonesian government has proposed Depapre Bay as a potential Marine Protected Area, and has also designated it as a strategic area to support development in Papua Province. Construction of a passenger port and container port began in the bay in 2015, which has generated growth in the area but  has also created pressure on and conflict over local natural resources. It has become increasingly important to identify new employment opportunities to empower local communities to move away from destructive methods of resource extraction. This study assessed the level of social resilience of communities in Depapre Bay, identified alternative livelihood options, formulated strategies to promote the implementation of livelihood programs, and calculated the economic value of the area.

Fishers’ welfare in Natuna waters post IUU fishing policy implementation

By: Khodijah Ismail, Firmansyah Kusasi, and Ria Fitriana (English, Indonesian)

Natuna District is in a strategic position for international seafaring activities; it is located at the northern end of Indonesia, encircled by South China Sea, and is part of the busy Malacca-Singapore-Phillipines Strait. Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing practices disproportionately affect traditional fishers in periphery islands like Natuna. To reduce fish theft by foreign fishers, the Indonesian government issued a policy to sink vessels perpetrating illegal fishing. This policy has had huge impacts on the fishing community of Natuna. This study helps us understand those impacts by identifying IUU fishing practices in Natuna, measuring the change in fishers’ income caused by IUU fishing policies, measuring the adaptive capacity of fishers, and providing intervention recommendations.

We would like to express our gratitude to the team of mentors who shepherded the fellows through this rigorous research process, including Umi Muawanah, Dr. Luky Adrianto, Dr. Mubariq Ahmad, Dr. Taryono Kodiran, and Dr. Ahmad Fachrudin. Thanks are also due to our partners at Bogor Agricultural University and The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. This work was made possible by generous support from Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.