14.1.2 Biological characteristics
Many fishers (55%) target pelagic fish exclusively. Another 24% fish both pelagic fish and reef
species. Seventeen fish were recorded as commonly caught: 10 pelagic fish and 7 reef fish. In
addition, fishers target shrimp, squid, and a type of shellfish (see Appendix 3). Women are
also involved in shell gathering.
Fishers perceived an average 11% decline in the condition of marine resources over the past 15
years, and they expect resources to decline another 15% in the next 15 years. More than half of the
fishers of our sample reported decreasing catches. They noted an average drop of 21% in fish catches,
and expect a further decline of 11% in future. However, they noted that catches fluctuate seasonally.
The main causes for the general degradation of the marine environment as perceived by Seri
fishers are pollution from factories, oil spills, and littering the beach. The decline in fish catches
is ascribed to the increasing number of nets and the number and size of boats. Although
modern gears (FADs, small mesh lift nets) and motorboats lead to over-exploitation, they
also lead to increasing yields for some.
To deal with the declining catches, the Social Department initiated a carp breeding program.
Some villagers were trained to carry out fish farming, and now they cultivate silver carps in
their house yards. The juveniles are sold. The people are rather enthusiastic about the
cultivation of silver carp in ponds because the fish are bought by the Chinese from Ambon at
the price of Rp10,000/kg (approximately 300-750 gram/fish). In a restaurant in Ambon, the
fish are worth approximately Rp25,000/fish (± USD10, 1996 exchange rate).
14.1.3 Fisheries technology
Seri has 75 registered fishers, but most farmers (150) also fish part-time. In the fishers’ sample,
79% owned boats (perahus), but none had a motor. Most common fishing gears are nets, hand
lines, poisons and spears. Of all the fishers interviewed, the majority only had hand lines and
the rest had nets. Some fished at FADs. Five fishers (17%) owned no gear at all, but it is very
well possible that these fishers work on the boats and use the lift nets of the commercial fleet.
The number of fishers working on the lift nets and FADs is not known. Others work on the
fishing boats (seiners), where they get approximately Rp50,000 a night per person (± USD20,
early 1997 exchange rate). A fishing boat takes approximately 20 young men in a fishing trip.
Artisanal and small commercial fishers
Many small-scale fishers use a giob, a 70 m long net. The best months for giob net fishing are
January, June, July and November; in September and October, catches are average. The fishers
work six days a week. Their fishing grounds are about 3-4 km away (one hour by boat). The
fish may be sold directly to consumers by the fisher’s wife, but in cases where the catch
exceeds three baskets (approximately 600 fish), the fisher will sell the fish through a borok
(fish broker) or to a wholesaler. Earnings vary between Rp20,000 to Rp40,000/day (USD8-
USD16, early 1997 exchange rate).
To start a fishing business requires about Rp350,000 or approximately USD140. A boat costs
Rp100,000 and nets cost about Rp35,000/10 meter. Additionally, a fisher will spend on an
average Rp5,000 a week for repairs. A net can last up to 10 years, but since it needs major
repairs each year, it is often cheaper to buy a new net.
Dusun Seri, Desa Urimesing, Ambon Island 179