Overview
Since 2020, and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a new surge in illegal small-scale fishing by Indonesian fishers in the Australian Fishing Zone. Australia and Indonesia have previously identified the need to find effective means to manage this illegal activity but the issues driving the illegal fishing are socially, economically and politically complex.
At the request of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, ACIAR funded a small research and development project to identify long-term solutions to support the sustainable livelihoods and wellbeing of rural coastal-fishing communities in the East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia.
This project engaged multidisciplinary, social science research teams, from Australia and Indonesia, to explore the many drivers and conditions leading to this recent surge in illegal fishing. The project was a collaborative and co-designed study, with the Indonesian researchers responsible for in-country research and data collection, supported by the Australian team in data analysis and writing. Through a literature review and field study, the project increased the knowledge, skills and capacity of both teams, and created a greater shared understanding of the problem and potential solutions.
There is little evidence-based guidance on how to address illegal fishing through behavioural change, community development or livelihood approaches. The researchers recommend investment by the Australian and Indonesian governments for a research-for-development intervention. Given the complexity of the issue, as demonstrated in this project, future research to improve livelihoods and reduce illegal activity should focus on a refined suite of drivers and a research agenda as described in the project final report.
View the project page
