The Pas Kecil, a Vessel’s Nationality Certificate, is intended for vessels with a gross tonnage of less than 7 GT and is issued by the Director General of Sea Transportation, Ministry of Transportation. Despite the cost-free process, many small-scale fishers’ boats do not yet have Pas Kecil, due to a lack necessary paperwork. One of the requirements is a letter of boat measurement, where boat size and tonnage are measured by a boat measurement expert who have been inaugurated by the Director General of Sea Transportation. Limited human resources within the Director General of Sea Transportation and the distant locations of fishers from the closest ports have hindered the process of obtaining Pas Kecil for the small-scale fishers.
From August to November 2023, LINI took a proactive step by conducting a PAS KECIL awareness campaign among tuna fishers in South Buru, Maluku. Collaborating with Cooperation Simpang 3 Darmabuana and PT Intimas Surya, a key player in Indonesia’s seafood industry committed to sustainable fisheries, LINI facilitated the gathering of registration documents and coordinated with Kantor Kesyahbandaran dan Otoritas Pelabuhan (KSOP), a harbourmaster’s office, and Port Authority Kelas 1 Ambon to measure boats in the field. The joint efforts resulted in the successful processing of 43 Pas Kecil for fishers from Pasir Putih village and Air Ternate village.
This initiative serves as a catalyst for change, demonstrating LINI’s dedication to assisting fishers in complying with government regulations. The presence of the KSOP team in their villages has stimulated a positive response from many fishers, who are now eager to start the process to obtain Pas Kecil.
New Collaboration in 2023
LINI embarks on a new collaboration in 2023 to enhance small-scale yellowfin tuna fisheries in South Buru, partnering with Cooperation Simpang 3 Darmabuana and PT Intimas Surya. This collaborative effort ensures the sustainability of tuna supply from South Buru waters, aligning with biological, ecological, and governance principles. The initiative is financially supported by the Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) period 2023-2024. One of the objectives within the RLF-funded program is to improve compliance, a crucial step supporting the fishers to launch a Basic Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) in the coming year.
This commitment underscores LINI’s dedication to fostering compliance, sustainability, and positive change in Indonesia’s small-scale fisheries.
By Eveline Kurniati and Gayatri Reksodihardjo Lilley