Social, economic and institutional study of purse seine fisheries based on the ecosystem approach in the Fishing Port of Kutaraja, Banda Aceh

Abstract

Purse seine is the most dominant fishing gear used by fishermen at the Fishing Port of Kutaraja. It affects increasing the number of fishing fleets and fishing efforts per year. The increase is considered to have a negative impact on fishers because it can trigger competition and conflict between fishers, violate the law, and even affect fishermen's income. This study aims to assess the status and formulate fisheries management actions regarding social, economic, and institutional aspects of fishing based on purse seines in the Fishing Port of Kutaraja. This research was conducted in 2018, and data were collected through a survey method by conducting in-depth interviews with several respondents and analyzed using the Flag Modelling technique. The results showed the composite value of the social domain was 91.66% in a ‘very good’ category, the economic domain was 33.33% in ‘poor’ condition, and the institutional domain was 67.66% in a ‘good’ shape. These results indicate that economic management actions need to be better pursued so that purse seine fisheries remain sustainable in accordance with social, economic, and institutional conditions by; (1) implement a profit-sharing system in accordance with applicable regulations; (2) strengthening good cooperation between stakeholders; (3) open dissemination of the importance of Panglima Laot customary rules; (4) improve supervision and law enforcement; (5) increase the synergy of regulations, institutions and stakeholder capacities.