Utilization of Freshwater Fish Biodiversity as Income Source of Poor Rural People (Case Study in Pampangan Subdistrict of South Sumatra Province, Indonesia)

Abstract

South Sumatra Province is covered by 1.1 million hectares of swamp land, which were considered as marginal land due to wet and muddy conditions as well as the presence of wild animals. During the wet season, the swamp ecosystem becomes a productive fishing ground, providing fish resource for neighboring communities. So this productive area constitutes a source of income for fishermen in the area. The current system categorizes the swamp area in Pampangan subdistrict into three types according to the source of water. Overall, the swamp is inhabited by 46 species of fishes and prawn. Type-2 swamp is populated by 31 species, while a number of 27 and 16 species were found in the type-3 and type-1 swamp, respectively. Type-2 swamp comprises the highest diversity. Resource allocation for fisheries is managed by the local government into 21 water bodies with artificial border. Each water body is exploited by a group of two to ten fishermen using various fishing gears, the most effective of which is a barrier with box trap (lulung). Using this fishing gear, the production might reach around 624,170 kg of fish per year. This gear seems to be a nonselective gear which catches 23 fish species. The other type, i.e., the longline (rawai), is the most selective gear which catches only seven carnivorous fish species. Data collected from this study indicates that fish yield is variable among water bodies from 15,000 kg per year in Lebung Asem to 220,900 kg per year in Rasau Jungkal, depending on ecological conditions in the swamp. Thus, the management of fishing activity would be very important in keeping fish biodiversity and in order to increase the fish yield; therefore, the income of fishermen might be increased.