Research finds funding and support are key for fishermen to adopt environmentally friendly fishing gear

JAKARTA – Small-scale fishers with better access to financing, support from their peer groups and general awareness of environmental issues are more likely to adopt environmentally friendly fishing gear, a study in Indonesia shows. A new study has revealed this.

Researchers from Indonesia’s Ministry of Fisheries and national research institutes have found that similar fishermen have primarily benefited from improved catch, improving both their welfare and the sustainability of their target stocks.

“Our findings are highly relevant to the current management of sustainable fisheries in Indonesia,” said corresponding author Karnia Mulya Firdausi from the National Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN) and Tarmanagara University, Jakarta. told Mongabay via email.

The study surveyed 647 fishermen targeting blue crabs off the north coast of Java, the center of Indonesia’s fishing industry. They found that fishermen who choose to switch to less destructive fishing gear belong to fishing organizations or cooperatives, have access to loans and higher levels of financial resources, and are less exposed to uncertainties such as climate and weather. I’ve found that fishermen tend to be more aware. And the flow.

The study found that belonging to a fishing group encourages individual fishers to use recommended equipment that is less damaging to the environment. Improving access to financing from banks is also important for financing the purchase of new equipment or upgrading tools to meet environmentally friendly standards, the study says . He added that fishermen’s awareness of environmental uncertainty, that climate change and other factors are impacting distribution and catches, is also an important factor. This is because it means they are more aware of sustainable fishing practices and are therefore more likely to use fishing. Related equipment.

Karunia said most Indonesian fishermen still prefer cheaper fishing gear, which is less environmentally friendly, with cost considerations outweighing concerns about potential damage to the marine environment. As a result, many of the country’s regulated fishing grounds are already showing signs of overfishing.

According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Fisheries, Indonesia’s estimated fish stocks in 2022 are 12 million tons, down nearly 4% from the estimated 12.5 million tons in 2017. The data also shows that 53% of the country’s 11 fisheries management areas are now considered to be “fully exploited” by these companies, known as WPP, and are subject to stricter monitoring, up from 44% in 2017. indicates that it is necessary.

The studied effects of using environmentally friendly fishing gear included significantly increased productivity and profitability compared to fishers using destructive fishing gear. Researchers say fishermen believe this trend is due to the blue crab fishery’s susceptibility to changing weather conditions and global market demand.

Another positive effect the researchers observed was that using environmentally friendly equipment reduced the capture of female crabs with eggs compared to destructive equipment. This means that the sustainability of resources is better protected.

However, researchers found that both buyer pressure and fishing gear complexity were barriers for fishers to switch. This shows that a change in mindset with capacity building, peer collaboration and fair market incentive mechanisms are all essential to improving fisher welfare, the study says.

“This applies not only to blue crabs, but also to other species,” Karnia says. “I think this is one of the reasons why a sustainable blue economy is being published and targeted.”

Indonesia’s Ministry of Fisheries has issued regulations on sustainable management of lobster, crab and fish resources. Regarding crab fishing in particular, in order to enhance conservation and ecological balance, the government emphasizes the ban on catching crabs below a certain size and catching females with eggs.

Karunia and his team said the study results should provide valuable insights for policy makers in Indonesia’s fisheries sector, demonstrating that environmentally friendly practices not only benefit the environment but also increase employment in fishing. He also emphasized the potential to improve the economic well-being of people living in poverty. sector.

They said fisheries authorities in Indonesia and other less industrialized countries need to develop effective strategies to encourage fishers to adopt environmentally friendly fishing methods. This includes promoting the positive impacts of switching, including highlighting the benefits for both fishers and the environment. This is an important step in encouraging a shift in mindset towards sustainable fishing.

“We have already discussed these findings at the National Research Center, but we have not yet presented them directly in front of policy makers or fisheries authorities,” Karnia said. “But I’m 1000% sure they are well aware of this problem. That’s why we want to sound the alarm on them and make sure they pay serious attention to solving the problem.”

Basten Gokkon I am Mongabay’s senior staff writer for Indonesia. Find him at 𝕏 @bgokkon.

See more articles by this reporter:

Indonesia delays implementation of widely criticized fishing policy

Quote:

Yulisti, M., Hidayat, AS, Firdausy, CM, Mu’awanah, U., Kurniasari, N., and Nurjati, E. (2023). The impact of environmentally friendly fishing gear on fisher welfare and sustainable fishing: Lessons learned from Indonesia. Marine pollution bulletin, 198. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115888

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