The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fishers in the Indramayu District

Abstract

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia has been perceived by all community. The global economic slowdown has an impact on Indonesia’s economic growth. Exports of Indonesian fishery products are delayed due to restrictions on imported products in Indonesia’s export destination countries. This study aims to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of fishery resources in the Indramayu District. The data used in this study are primary and secondary. Methods of data analysis using quantitative descriptive. The results showed that fishermen in the Indramayu District continue to catch fish using the same fishing fleet and gear at the same fishing ground. The decline in business income due to the decrease in the selling price of fish causes a decrease in business capital and a decrease in the source of livelihood for small-scale fishermen. Fishermen’s income has decreased by 20-30% per trip. Fishers continue to use the same boat, fishing gear, fishing ground, operational costs, and crew. The adaptation made by small fishermen is to reduce the number of trips to avoid losses when catches are low. The adaptation carried out by large-scale fishermen is to look for alternative sources of capital for operational costs to be still carried out during the fishing season. The government can provide fishing gear assistance and financial assistance to small fishers and provide capital institutions for large-scale fishers in reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fishers in Indramayu.