Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Tuna Small Scale Fishing in Indonesian Archipelagic Waters (IFMA 713, 714 and 715)
Ignatius Trihargiyatno, Lilis Sadiyah, Fayakun Satria, Dian Novianto, Mahiswara and Agustinus Anung Widodo

Research Center for Fishery, National Research and Innovation Agency

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has been believed to disrupt most economic sectors, including fishing industry. However, there are few information related to impact of the COVID-19 to tuna small scale fisheries in the Indonesia^s archipelagic waters (IAW) (Fisheries Management Areas 713, 714 and 715). In order to identify the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on tuna small scale fishing activities (pole and line, purse seine and Handline-Troll line) in the IAW, a study was conducted in two main tuna fishing ports in the area, i.e. Kendari (Southeast Sulawesi) and Bitung (North Sulawesi). The key aspects to be investigated are number of active vessels, number of landing or fishing trips, day at sea (DAS) or day of fishing (DOF), catch and nominal catch per unit effort (CPUE) for each tuna fishing gear which were collected for the period of 2019-2020. The results show that there is no clear pattern showing the changes on fishing operations of small scale tuna fisheries before and during COVID-19, suggesting there is no or little impact of COVID-19 on small scale tuna fishing operations in IAW.

Keywords: Tuna, small scale, archipelagic

Topic: Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries