Abstract
ABSTRACT The aquaculture industry is developing tremendously over the past two decades following the significant decline of the world’s fish catch. Nevertheless, small scale fish farmers are still one of the most vulnerable communities in Indonesia. In their attempt to carry out successful aquaculture business, small scale fish farmers encounter several challenges that inhibit the fish farmers in ensuring the sustainability of fish products. This research aims to explore challenges and identify internal and external challenges that affect fish farmers’ activities in ensuring fish product sustainability. This research used a quantitative approach by collecting data through questionnaire distribution to small scale fish farmers in Central Java and data was analyzed using statistical analysis package. The findings of this research showed that challenges are classified into nine internal and seven external challenges. Result of statistical analysis indicated that internal challenges influenced product sustainability through water quality examination, whereas external challenges influenced product sustainability through two activities, i.e. giving feed at the right quantity and time, and maintain fish seed quality and availability.
Highlights
IntroductionThe number of fish farmers in Indonesia exceed 2.5 million but the industry is still dominated by small-scale fish farmers which most of them in vulnerable condition (KKP, 2013)
Indonesian aquaculture is still under maximum potential yield
This suggests that both internal and external challenges associated with product sustainability affect water quality examination
Summary
The number of fish farmers in Indonesia exceed 2.5 million but the industry is still dominated by small-scale fish farmers which most of them in vulnerable condition (KKP, 2013). Previous studies have found that the small-scale fish farmers are lacking access to high quality fish seed and still use poor farming systems which restrain the growth of the industry. Environmental degradation and pollution increases vulnerability of fish farmers (ADB, 2015). Despite aquaculture activities should be a reliable action in providing fish supply, it has created new problems such as environmental destruction and is using large quantity of wild fish catch for “fish food” (Huntington, 2009). Pauly et al (2002) has claimed similar opinion that the environment degradation which adversely results in pollution and fish disease outbreak, was a result of the current unsustainable aquaculture practice Despite aquaculture activities should be a reliable action in providing fish supply, it has created new problems such as environmental destruction and is using large quantity of wild fish catch for “fish food” (Huntington, 2009). Pauly et al (2002) has claimed similar opinion that the environment degradation which adversely results in pollution and fish disease outbreak, was a result of the current unsustainable aquaculture practice
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