On August 6th and 7th, six octopus fishers from the Banggai Archipelago, specifically from the villages of Popisi, Kalumbatan, and Lobuton, along with four fishers from the Selayar Archipelago, including two from the village of Kahu-Kahu and two fisherwomen from Mekar Indah, gathered in Makassar for an important event. This marked the first time small-scale fishers, specializing in octopus, snapper, and grouper, from five provinces across Sulawesi, came together to share their visions, aspirations, and challenges related to their fisheries.
The gathering, funded by the Sustainable Fishery Partnership (SFP)—an international NGO and a key partner of LINI—served as a crucial platform for these fishers. SFP has previously facilitated a similar network for blue swimming crab fisheries in Indonesia. Over the course of two days, 26 fishers representing fishing communities from Central Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and Gorontalo provinces reached a historic agreement to establish the National Demersal Fisheries Network.
In a profession traditionally dominated by men, the presence of two fisherwomen from Selayar highlighted the significant role women play in the fishing industry. At LINI, we are committed to promoting gender inclusivity in our community empowerment programs. Through this network, women, alongside their male counterparts, can now voice their concerns and contribute to the dialogue on small-scale fisheries. This collaborative effort provides fishers with a vital platform to support sustainable fishing practices and safeguard their livelihoods.
By forming this network, demersal fishers, including those involved in octopus fishing, aim to strengthen their collective capacity to address challenges and seize opportunities. This initiative is not only about securing their future livelihoods but also about protecting the fishery resources and marine ecosystems they depend on.
By Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley