Women’s Strategic Role in the Life of Eastern Lombok’s Coastal Community
- February 19, 2025
by Maman
I understand that the gender-based division of labor is not merely a product of social construct, but also a reflection of lived experiences, case studies, and carefully weighed risk-benefit considerations.
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It was a sweltering afternoon in early August 2024 when I arrived in Pasadia Hamlet in Seruni Mumbul Village, located right at the easternmost of Lombok Island. The journey from Mataram, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara located in Lombok, had taken nearly three hours.
Seated with a group of local fishers over coffee and traditional snacks, I listened to stories of their daily struggles and aspirations. These small-scale fishers—engaged in both handline tuna fishing and reef fisheries for species like grouper and octopus—were part of an initiative supported by MDPI.
MDPI has been working with fishers in Lombok for over eight years, initially collecting port sampling data to improve the fisheries sector in the area. This effort aimed to support sustainable fishery management by promoting legal, documented, and regulated fishing practices. As we grew alongside the locals, so did our ambitions.
In 2021, the coastal community of Seruni Mumbul Village formed a fishers’ cooperative—a business initiative that buys and sells locally caught fish while also running a store providing fishing gear and other supplies.
Listening to cooperative members recount their experiences, I was eager to understand how the organization operated, who managed it, and what benefits it provided. By chance, I found myself sitting next to three women: Nur Hasanah, Sunarni, and Mulyani, all of whom played key roles in running the cooperative’s business. As our conversation unfolded, they shared their experiences as women involved in fisheries management, particularly through the cooperative’s operations.
Gender-Based Role Division
Much like the social culture of other fishing communities across Indonesia, gender roles are distinctly visible in Seruni Mumbul. Locals actively participate in reef fisheries using gleaning method to catch octopus and small reef fish. However, women are rarely involved in the fishing activity. Instead, they contribute as “indirect fishers.”
Women in Seruni Mumbul do more than just the traditional household duties; they prepare fishing supplies for their husbands before they set out to sea, process the catch, and manage its distribution in local markets. In many cases, they sell processed seafood to support their families or use it to sustain their household’s food supply. Although often overlooked, these responsibilities form the backbone of the local fishing economy, ensuring both financial and food security.
The division of labor is not merely a product of social construct, but also a reflection of lived experiences, case studies, and carefully weighed risk-benefit considerations. Fishing, particularly in deep-sea tuna fisheries, is among the world’s most hazardous professions, as recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) [1]. Fishers face extreme weather conditions and unpredictable ocean currents, with climate change further intensifying these risks.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) [2], commercial fishing accounted for approximately 200,000 fatal workplace accidents globally in 2023. Data collected by MDPI between 2016 and 2024 recorded 35 fishing-related accidents in Indonesia, including nine fatalities and one fisher reported missing.
This high-risk environment has led many families to make strategic decisions regarding labor division. A conversation with a fisher’s wife in Gorontalo years ago came to mind—she and her husband deliberately chose to divide responsibilities so that one parent, the mother, would always remain at home to care for their children. The house-parent will ensure family stability in the event of an accident at sea, which can be unpredictable and not expected by anyone.
These lived realities help explain why women like Mulyani and Sunarni focus on managing the catch rather than venturing out to sea. By running the cooperative’s business operations, they don’t only strengthen their household income, but also strengthen the village’s fishing community through innovation and collaboration. Their choice is not merely economic—it is a survival strategy intertwined with social responsibility and familial devotion.
Strengthening Household Economies
As our discussion continued, punctuated by laughter and the warmth of rural camaraderie, I asked the women why they actively participated in a male-dominated industry. Despite gendered divisions in the workforce, they were determined to contribute to their family’s economic well-being in their own way—without feeling pressured to engage in offshore fishing.
Many fisher’s wives run small businesses, such as selling snacks or trading fish in neighboring farming villages where fresh seafood is in demand. With limited formal education and business training, these women seek ways to maximize their available time while managing household responsibilities.
“I might be a housewife, but I also strive to make my own income. I can at least support my children’s needs, especially with the inflation growing over the years,” – Nur Hasanah.
The Cooperative’s Social and Economic Impact
The conversation shifted to the cooperative’s development. Over the distant sounds of village life—roosters crowing, children playing—the women expressed their enthusiasm for the cooperative’s growth. For them, their cooperative is more than just a business opportunity; it is a way to participate in strengthening both their households and the broader fishing community.
Nur Hasanah, who previously sold vegetables for living, found the cooperative a natural extension of her skills. By leveraging local fishery resources and financial management training, she began trading fresh fish in farming villages where she still sourced vegetables. Sunarni and Mulyani, too, gained additional income through cooperative management, benefiting from profit-sharing during the Cooperative Annual Meetings (Rapat Anggota Tahunan; RAT).
Read also: Sustaining Tuna Fisheries in West Nusa Tenggara: A Collaborative Effort Takes Shape
One of the key takeaways from their stories was the value of training—not only for business growth but also for personal development. With a smile, Sunarni recounted how financial literacy training helped her manage both household expenses and cooperative finances. “It is something that I have never learned in school,” she expressed.
“The trainings that we received have become a social platform for us all. It also serves as a tension breaker in our community,” – Sunarni.
Over lunch freshly prepared from the local’s catch, I learned that the cooperative’s benefits extended beyond financial gains. It provided fishers with easier access to export market and access to fishing gear at more affordable prices, as bulk purchasing reduced costs. Likewise, the cooperative stabilized fish prices, ensuring local fishers received fair market value for their catch.
Long-Term Opportunities and Collaboration
The experiences of these women represent just a fraction of the broader impact unfolding in MDPI-supported communities. Each village tells a unique story of resilience and adaptation, highlighting the evolving role of women in sustaining Indonesia’s small-scale fisheries.
Personally, I am eager to continue learning from fishers and cooperatives in other regions, particularly in Maluku and North Maluku. My hope is to document these impacts—not just in words, but in measurable data—to amplify their significance and inspire broader change.
However, achieving meaningful impact requires sustained support and capacity-building for small-scale fishers. This cannot be accomplished in isolation. Collaboration is essential—among governments, donors, local communities, and stakeholders invested in sustainable fisheries management and coastal community development.
Such partnerships not only expand the reach of these initiatives but also ensure their long-term viability. Together, we can drive positive change that benefits both coastal communities and the marine ecosystems they depend on.
References:
[2] ILO: https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/nearly-3-million-people-die-work-related-accidents-and-diseases