Why Logbooks are Key to Indonesia’s Sustainable Fishing

by M. A. Indira Prameswari

For some, taking notes is a dull task, whether it’s recording finances, school notes, or meeting details. However, record-keeping can help us reflect on past events, and make better decisions in the future.

Consider financial records: by reviewing our monthly spending, we can make wiser budgeting choices in the future, adjusting or reducing unnecessary expenses. Similarly, fishers need to track their catch data. Ideally, fishers should document their daily activities and catch details in a fishing logbook, capturing information such as number of captured fish, fuel usage, fishing methods, and more.

Despite the benefits, filling logbook can be challenging for many fishers. This is especially true for Indonesia’s small-scale tuna fishers, who are legally required to log their catches under the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation No. 33 of 2021. This rule supports sustainable tuna stock management, yet data from small-scale fisheries remains insufficient, posing a challenge for policymaking aimed for sustainable fisheries.

Challenges faced by small-scale fishers

Data collection in Indonesia’s tuna fisheries faces setbacks, particularly from small-scale fishers. According to Aris Budiarto, Head of the Working Group on Logbooks and Quota Allocation at the Ministry, limited data from small-scale fisheries restricts the government’s ability to create effective policies for tuna stock management.

See also: Ministry Recognizes MDPI for Consistent Support in Small-Scale Fishers’ Logbook Program

One of the primary challenges is a lack of familiarity with logbook usage. MDPI observes firsthand that the issue goes beyond habitual challenges. Many fishers are simply untrained in proper logbook documentation.

Fadlan Silawane, a small-scale fisher from Maluku, notes that understanding the significance of logbook usage, related regulations, and accurate recording techniques isn’t universal among his peers. Similarly, Yonathan Guraici, a fisherman from North Maluku, faces challenges using e-logbooks due to living in remote island with poor internet connectivity, which prevents him from accessing the digital tool.

Other barriers include literacy levels, education gaps, and physical exhaustion after extended hours at sea.

The antidote: Building small-scale fishers’ capacity in filling logbooks

According to MDPI’s Program Strategy Lead Kai Garcia, NGOs and the fishing industry must play a role in supporting small-scale fishers to overcome these challenges. Kai emphasizes the need for collaborative initiatives to help small-scale fishers improve logbook compliance.

Several large fisheries companies have already recognized the need for logbook documentation. For example, PT Cassanatama Naturindo, based in Central Java, mandates logbook usage among its shrimp supplier partners as part of their commitment to legal and traceable fishing.

See also: PT Cassanatama Naturindo Works with Sahabat Laut Lestari on e-Logbook Implementation

As an NGO, MDPI supports small-scale fishers by facilitating logbook training and problem-solving strategies. We encourage fishers’ families to assist in filling logbooks, particularly when the fishers are too fatigued after fishing trips. In some communities, fishers even hire local residents to help filling their logbooks.

Completing logbooks is a collaborative effort that requires support across the fishing sector to achieve comprehensive, sustainable data collection. If you’re part of this community—whether a fisher, someone from fisheries industry, or from an NGO, consider taking part in this essential cause for a more sustainable future!