Comparison of sustainability level of Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) purse seines operated inside and outside FADs areas in the Makassar Strait Waters, South Sulawesi Indonesia

Abstract

Skipjack tuna is an important fishery commodity in the Makassar Strait waters, exploited by fishermen using various types of fishing gear. The study was conducted in March 2017 to November 2018 with the aim of analyzing the level of sustainability of skipjack fishing technology in the Makassar Strait waters. Data on biological, technical, economic, social, and legal aspects are collected through direct observation and interviews. The sustained level of fishing technologies is analyzed using the scoring method. The results that there are differences between purse seine operated inside and outside FADs areas in terms of the size structure of fish, percentage of eligible size to catch, the impact of technologies on the habitat, diversity, and fishermen, and bycatch. It is not different in terms of the quality of fish caught, the impact on consumers, the value of the investment, the amount of labor, business profits, and the legality. The research concluded that purse seines operated outside the FADs areas have a moderate level of sustainability, and purse seines operated inside the FADs areas have a low level of sustainability.