Small scale fisheries performance: comparative analysis before and during the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia

Abstract

The incidence of the Covid-19 pandemic indirectly affects the decline in the activity of the processing industry and fish consumption by the community. In the short term, there is also a decline in fish prices. This study examines whether the decline in economic activity in the fisheries sector causes changes in the performance of small-scale fisheries, both before and during the Covid-19 pandemic in Tolitoli Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. The target of the research object is fishers who use trolling lines, handline, and beach seine. The analytical method used is Exponential Comparison Method. The results showed that capture fisheries belonging to SSF, which had high performance before covid-19, were fishing gear, and the lowest performance was Surrounding net. On the other hand, the surrounding net has a higher performance during the pandemic than the other three fishing gears, and the lowest is Trolling lines. However, there has been a significant decline in prices and market affordability, the economic contribution of small-scale fishing businesses from before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, a policy to open up an export-oriented fish catch market and a wider market reach is required.