When Fishers’ Business Attracts Bonuses and Projects for the Community
- August 21, 2025
by Siti Zulaeha
Ramadan 2025 marked the second year since four fishing associations in Central Maluku Regency launched their tuna trading businesses. As Eid approached, fisher associations HQs were filled with warm, meaningful conversations. Leaders of each association gathered to share the annual holiday bonus for all members, taking some portion from the business profit.
“I never thought this long journey would bring us to a point where we own a business and manage our own capital,” said Mo from the Tuna Yapana Fisher Association. Yuman added, “Now we can decide tuna prices together. Middlemen can’t intervene with our prices anymore.”
Back in 2023, this association started with just IDR 6 million. Today, they’ve grown their enterprise to hold assets worth IDR 116 million. “Now, we just don’t desperately sit next to stacks of coolboxes of some random rich middlemen. Now, we sit next to those boxes in our own warehouse,” said Yalis, leader of Teluk Ampera Fisher Association (FA).
Appreciating Last Year’s Hard Work with Annual Bonus
Some associations gave out cash and groceries to thank their hardworking members. In Seram, Tuna Haruo Abadi FA shared IDR 18 million among its 24 members, Tuna Yapana FA shared IDR 14 million of bonus to its core members, and Teluk Labuang FA gifted IDR 5 million to fish suppliers who support their business.
These annual bonuses acted like holiday gifts for members who have been consistently practicing logbook reports and sustainable tuna fishing. The group used the payouts to show their commitment to transparency and shared success.
Collaborations That Opened Doors: From Bappeda to PELNI
By the end of 2024, the four MDPI-supported groups in Central Maluku gained more support from external partners. The Regional Planning Agency (Bappeda) through Bappeda Maluku and MDPI launched a pilot project to strengthen their economic resilience. The corresponding associations received business funding and operational tools to improve their fishery business.
Another collaboration came from MDPI’s partnership with PT PELNI under the ‘Fair Trade USA Capacity Building Project for Small-Scale Fishers and Women in Fisheries’ project. This collaboration brought in more equipment, encouraging associations to expand their business.
Individual collaboration also came to play. Some associations now accept member investments with a 10% profit-sharing scheme, while some others prepare to open branch warehouses in nearby villages.
Women Act, Families Thrive
In Tanjung Kramat District, Gorontalo, ten housewives came together to form a fish processing and marketing group named ‘Ta’ Buwa Tanjung Kramat’. Their business was built on only IDR 500,000 of capital and bold determination. Since its establishment in July 2024, they’ve earned IDR 17 million of profit and shared IDR 15 million among themselves.
The idea started when Mrs. Milan joined a tuna nugget training. She then rallied other fishers’ wives to start their own production. What began with just 5 kg per month has grown to 30 kg. Today, they also make panada (traditional North Sulawesi fried dough filled with tuna floss), meatballs, and fish sticks.
“We’d rather cook and sell than cook and dwell in nothing. It brings in extra money for the household. We even use some of the extra money to buy holiday gifts, too,” said Yasmine, the group’s secretary.
Sugars Attract Ants, and Business Attracts Economy Growth
Consistent, collective approaches have proven effective for coastal communities. The old Indonesian proverb, “Where there’s sugar, there are ants,” lives among these communities. What started as a means for personal benefit have grown to benefit the members’ families and communities.
They are no longer just fishers or housewives: they are bold, resilient small-scale entrepreneurs who bring impacts in where they live.