Fisheries in Merauke: linking fishermen to markets

Abstract

The Indonesian Minister of Marine and Fisheries Regulations has given a prospect for domestic fishing vessels and Merauke as the stay over fishing port. This study found that in Merauke the capacity of cold storage was only 2,250 tons; the shortage of ice supply for fishing remains occurred; most of the fishing fleets were not equipped with freezer and; the fish-processing unit did not exist. As a consequence, 13.42% - 51.5% of fishes were thrown away to the sea after taking the swim bladder of fish (fish maw). Data and information on fisheries were collected from 23 April 2019 to 3 May 2019 in Merauke. The supply chain approach was used for policy intervention to improve the fishing business. The objective of this study was to analyze the phenomenon of fishery business in Merauke. The main conclusion of the analysis show, Merauke become a landing place for fish maw’s fishing fleets from the Arafura Sea. This study recommended that there must be an investor to organize a 100 tons ice factory as a supplier for fishing vessels. Merauke might be promoted as the center for pet food industries by using discarded fish to fill domestic market demand. Promote local traders to follow domestic and international fish trade exhibition to prepare Merauke as the business center of fish maw.