The essence of the restoration movement is to build civilisation and\nstrengthen human quality. Indonesia is a maritime country with the\nsecond-longest coastline in the world. The sea provides the main source\nof animal protein for hundreds of millions of people and is one of the\npillars of food security. The fisheries sector\u2019s contribution to gross\ndomestic product may not be large, but its role in employment and food\nprovision is highly strategic. Behind these facts, the welfare of\nfishermen remains a recurring problem.<\/p>\n
Data from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries shows the\npotential of more than 1.3 million fishermen. Fisheries production\ncontinues to grow. Throughout 2025, production volume reached 26.25\nmillion tonnes, an increase of 11.48 percent compared to the previous\nyear\u2019s realisation. However, welfare figures have not moved as fast as\nproduction volume. The Fishermen\u2019s Exchange Rate (NTN) for January\u2013June\n2026 averaged 107.41 and moved fluctuatively. This movement indicates\nthat improvements in fishermen\u2019s welfare have not been strong. The rise\nin prices received by fishermen has not been able to deliver a\nsignificant increase in purchasing power relative to the costs they must\nbear.<\/p>\n
Poverty in coastal areas is relatively higher. Statistics Indonesia\nonce recorded that the extreme poverty rate in coastal areas reached\n4.19 percent, slightly above the national figure. Traditional\nfishermen\u2019s organisations even state that this group contributes a\nsignificant portion to the national poverty rate. This fact shows a gap\nbetween the potential of resources and the results enjoyed by those who\ndepend directly on the sea.<\/p>\n
Why has welfare not kept pace with potential? First, the market\nstructure is unequal. Most small-scale fishermen still depend on\nmiddlemen. Information asymmetry and weak bargaining power mean prices\nat the fisherman level are far lower than the prices paid by end\nconsumers. Second, business risks are high. Extreme weather,\nfluctuations in fish stocks, and workplace accidents are part of daily\nlife. Insurance protection coverage remains limited even though premium\nassistance programmes continue to be rolled out.<\/p>\n
Third, access to capital and technology is limited. Small fleets with\nsimple engines still dominate. Fuel costs are a major burden despite the\nexistence of subsidy schemes. Fourth, the value chain is short. Without\nadequate cold storage and processing facilities, much of the catch loses\nvalue or is sold in raw form with thin margins.<\/p>\n
Mainstreaming fishermen\u2019s welfare means making this issue an integral\npart of national economic policy. Several steps can be considered\nsimultaneously. First, strengthen collective institutions. The \u2018Koperasi\nNelayan Merah Putih\u2019 or professionally managed joint business groups can\nimprove bargaining power, manage shared cold chains, and open direct\nmarket access. The government can facilitate digital marketing platforms\nso fishermen can connect with modern buyers, including processing\nindustries and retail. Experience in several regions shows that when\nfishermen have strong institutions, the margins they receive increase\nand dependence on middlemen decreases.<\/p>\n
Second, reform operational support. Fuel subsidies need to be\ncomplemented with efficiency incentives and gradual fleet modernisation.\nThe coverage of existing fishermen\u2019s insurance programmes needs to be\nexpanded and claim procedures simplified. Affordable premiums and fast\nclaims will reduce the vulnerability of fishermen\u2019s households to\nshocks. Training in navigation skills, catch handling, and simple\nbusiness management is also important so that productivity increases\nwithout adding pressure on fish stocks.<\/p>\n
Third, invest in public infrastructure in coastal areas.\nWell-functioning fishing ports, cold storage, and small-scale processing\nfacilities are public goods that the market struggles to provide alone.\nThis infrastructure reduces post-harvest losses and opens up value-added\nopportunities. Development should be prioritised in production centres\ndense with small-scale fishermen so the impact is evenly\ndistributed.<\/p>\n
Fourth, integrate with macro policies. A special people\u2019s business\ncredit scheme for fishermen with more flexible requirements can overcome\ncapital constraints. Responsible sustainable resource management,\nconservation areas, and law enforcement against illegal fishing will\nsafeguard long-term stocks. Without healthy stocks, all welfare\nimprovement efforts will only be temporary. Accurate and updated data on\nthe number of fishermen, fleets, and catches also form the foundation\nfor targeted policies.<\/p>\n
Experience from other countries shows that fishermen\u2019s welfare\nimproves when policies focus on the complete value chain, from catching\nto marketing, accompanied by good resource governance. High production\nwithout welfare only creates new inequalities in coastal areas.\nConversely, improved welfare will strengthen the motivation to preserve\nresources. Ultimately, the success of the blue economy is measured not\nonly by catch volumes or foreign exchange, but also by whether fishermen\nand their families live better. Mainstreaming fishermen\u2019s welfare is an\ninvestment in food security, social justice, and the sustainability of\nmarine resources. When fishermen prosper, national food security becomes\nmore robust.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mainstreaming-fishermens-welfare-1784760645", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }