Barriers to Promoting the Welfare of Fishing Communities in Indonesia: Policy Recommendations and Strengthening Regulations
Keywords:
Fishermen's welfare, Fishing community, Fisheries policy, Government subsidies, Strengthening regulationsAbstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze the obstacles in the implementation of fisher welfare policies in Indonesia and provide policy recommendations and strengthening regulations that can support the improvement of fisher welfare in a sustainable manner. This research method uses a literature review with thematic analysis to identify policies, obstacles, and best practices in improving fisher welfare in Indonesia. The main findings of this study indicate that although Indonesian government policies such as subsidies, fisher insurance programs, and port infrastructure development have been designed to improve fisher welfare, their implementation is still constrained by problems of uneven distribution, budget constraints, low awareness of fishermen, and limited access to facilities in remote areas. In addition, strengthening regulations that support the sustainability of marine resources and empowering technology to increase market access are needed to overcome these obstacles and ensure the effectiveness of the policy. This finding implies that existing policies must be strengthened through improvements to the distribution system, increasing accessibility, and developing more relevant training for fishermen. In addition, strengthening regulations that support fisheries sustainability and empowering technology will be the key to promoting fisher welfare more effectively and sustainably.
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