A part of the recently established Gorontalo Province, North Gorontalo Regency lies within the Tomini Gulf and Sulawesi Sea of Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 716 in Indonesia. As a lecturer at Gorontalo University, Nurul Auliyah wanted to learn more about the local marine management of FMA 716, in particular, the management of the local skipjack population (Katsuwonus Pelamis).

Through Conservation Strategy Fund’s 2020-2021 Groundwork Analysis (GWA) fellowship program, Auliyah was able to join a diverse group of 2021 GWA fellows in conducting her research. With the support of her colleagues, Faizal Rumagia from Khairun University and Adil SInohaji from the Kwandang’s Indonesian Fishing Port (PPN Kwandang), Auliyah conducted research on sustainable resource management strategies for Skipjack fisheries in the North Gorontalo regency, focusing on the design and implementation of a bioeconomic and value chain model.

Between September of 2020 and April of 2021, Auliyah and her colleagues collected data from the National Fishing Port (PPN Kwandang), Fish Landing Base (PPI Gentuma Raya), and other local stakeholders on the sale of skipjack in North Gorontalo Regency. After compiling their research, Auliyah and her team created a set of recommendations for regulations of sustainable Skipjack fisheries in FMA 716.

In June of 2021, Auliyah’s consortium shared this research and their initial findings with the public by inviting local stakeholders from Gorontalo Province to a virtual event. During the presentation, Auliyah presented the results of their extensive research to the community. “As researchers, we felt called upon to see the current conditions of the skipjack fisheries in our area,” says Auliyah. “We found that there is no market for the skipjack at the national or international level, and that the government had not recorded data on the sale of skipjack, especially in North Gorontalo Regency.”   

Auliyah and her team then drafted a set of recommendations to support the North Gorontalo Province skipjack fisheries, including taking the below steps:
To ensure the sustainability of skipjack fisheries, local skipjack fisheries managers must compare the catches per fishing effort (CPUE) with the quota set by the central government. 


1. The local government should create regulations for skipjack fishing seasons based on the skipjack migration and spawning seasons.

2. The local government needs to encourage diversification of skipjack fisheries products in order to maximize the value of skipjack in the area.

3. The local government needs to ensure the availability of skipjack catch for the fish-processing industry at the local, regional, and national levels.

4. The local government should optimize the cold-chain storage and transportation system of processed skipjack to reduce waste and ensure the product’s quality. 

5. The local government should develop an integrated fisheries industry with production and marketing centers for skipjack fisheries to facilitate its distribution, and increase the product marketing at regional, national, and international levels. 


With cooperation from local fishermen, local businesses, and regional fisheries institutions, Auliyah is hopeful that her research and recommendations will help optimize skipjack fisheries and promote a more sustainable skipjack fishing industry in FMA 716. Already, the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries, Ministry of Marine Affairs & Fisheries (DJPT-KKP) has expressed interest in aligning Auliyah’s research with the central government’s policies.

In comments for the Harian Rakyat Gorontalo newspaper, Aris Budiarto, Directorate General of Capture Fisheries, Ministry of Marine Affairs & Fisheries (DJPT-KKP) spoke highly of Aaliyah’s findings. “The results of this research for skipjack fisheries in North Gorontalo can be submitted to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to be synchronized with central policies and input can be given to the research results that have been carried out.” Looking forward, Nurul’s consortium believes they can push for further action and collaboration between the stakeholders in North Gorontalo Province and help the fisheries become more sustainable.