*Corresponding author: sudhartophadi@yahoo.co.id

The Irony of Fishermen Life in Bontang Islands, East Kalimantan,Indonesia

Sudharto P. Hadi1,*, Sri Suryoko1, Bulan Prabawani1

1Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Science, Diponegoro University, Jl. Prof. Soedarto, SHTembalang, Semarang, Central Java,Indonesia

Abstract. Bontang Bay, East Kalimantan is strategically located and rich in marine resources. However, people live atthe islands of Gusung and Malahing are generally poor. This paper observes the socio-economic condition of fishermenat the two small islands and their relation with industries. The data collection techniques consist of physical observation,informal interview, and document review . The gathered data is analysed qualitatively. Fishermen at Gusung andMalahing are adversely affected by the impacts of climate change. In addition they are trapped by collectors (middlemen) for financing operational cost of fishing and supporting their life during draught season. Their area are vulnerableof being impacted by industries’ activities such as oil spill, smoke stake and odor. It is required for industries located atthe area to help alleviate fishermen poverty by initiating innovative CSR for creating self-reliance community.

Keywords: Poor Fishermen, Climate Change, Middlemen Trap, Industries, Innovative CSR

1 IntroductionBontang known as a city on the eastern coast of theIsland of Borneo, Indonesia. The environment ofBontang city are fully by rich marine resources. It showBontang’s people job as fishermen. But, in the otherhand industrilisation start to developed in this City. Thiscan affect Bontang environment.

Fishermen is considered the poorest of thepoor. They are currently facing uncertain season causedby climate change. During the draught season comes,they could not go fishing and consequently do not haveany income. The weed culture as a second job has aproblem with disease. To support their live and tofinance their fishing operation they borrow money fromcollector (middleman), buying the fish from fishermenand selling them to other places. However, thefishermen are obliged to sell their caught fish to thecollectors with the price determined by the collectors.Ironically, their settlements are surrounded by variousindustries such as fertilizer factory, natural gasliquefied, Kaltim Mandiri Energy, Methanol Factoriesand others. This paper outlines the socio-economiccondition of fishermen at the islands of Gusung andMalahing, Bontang Bay and their relation withindustries surrounding their settlement.

2 MethodologyThe type of research is descriptive analysis and its scopeincludes the socio-economic of fishermen, the factorscausing fishermen poverty, the relation betweenfishermen and the industries and proposedrecommendation to alleviate the poverty. The data

collection techniques include physical observation,informal interview with fishermen and persons in chargeof CSR of Fertilizer Company. The gathered data isanalyzed qualitatively.

A research done by Shaffril et al found that theimpacts of climate change in the form of rainfall andincreased temperature adversely affect fishermen'sproductivity[1]. In Malaysia during the north-eastmonsoon, fishermen catch drop until 20%. In addition,climate change causes reduction of fishing days, damageto fishermen's productive and non-productive assets,exposure to health problems, and decreased food supply.The measure to deal with these problems includeproviding knowledge about climate change, involvingfishermen in planning based on their needs, abilities andinterests and improving their access to credit helpingtheir efforts to adapt and expedite recovery processes.

Senapati and Gupta note that sea level risetriggers heavy rainfall, floods and cyclones, damages thecoastal property and infrastructure, decreases theavailability of fish, fish migration and loss of fishingboat and nets[2]. These phenomena place a seriousburden on the coastal communities. Senapati and Guptafound that these fishermen are also often exploited bymiddlemen while marketing fish2. The vulnerability offishing communities in Mumbai is further increased dueto pollution of coastal waters. Miñarro et al found thepatron-client relationship indirectly causes a worseenvironmental impact by encouraging higherexploitation rates[3]. This market-driven fishingbehavior may threaten the long-term usability of theirmarine resources, risking a poverty trap. Shaffril et alnote that fishermen who are dependent on nature,experience many challenges caused by a climate change.Risks reduction, social relationships, climate changeknowledge, alternative skills, involvement in planning

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© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

and access to credit are among the alternative solutionsfor social adaptation1.

3 Discussion

People live at the islands Gusung and Malahingoriginally came from Mamuju, West Sulawesi known asMandar ethnic and widely recognized as excellentfishermen. They are socially tied by the same original ofplace, religion and occupation. Their main job isfishermen with catching instrument is fishing rod andcaught fish are white fish, tongkol kakap, kerapu,bawis. The regular price of white fish is IDR 45 000,- /kg, kakap and kerapu IDR 25 000,-/kg. During thecatching season, the minimum income from fishing isIDR 50 000,- and the most is Rp 200.000,- Operationalcost for gasoline reaches IDR 45 000,-. The caught fishare sold to local collectors (middlemen) at the island.The price of canoe reach IDR 2 - 4 million, the canoeengine IDR 2, 500.000 – IDR 4 million. The side job isculturing a sea weed. The price of dried sea weed is IDR6000,- each kg. Sea weed is being harvested in 40 days.With the capital of IDR 5 million, they earn IDR1.400.000 each harvest. They sell the sea weed to acollector in Bontang City. During the uncertain season,most fishermen’s income is only IDR 50.000,- per dayand is not enough to cover the operational cost. Seaweedcultured is also in a bad condition because of disease. Inaddition to the loan from collector, they get the one fromFertilizer company. In a such condition, they could notreturn a loan. They are vulnerable because of theuncertain income and trapped with collectors(middlemen).

The crucial problems encountered by localresidents are the lack of clean water. They have to buy aclean water from the nearest villages like TanjungLimau or Lok Tuan for Gusung and Bontang City forMalahing for IDR 300.000,- to IDR 400.000,- per monthper household. The second crucial problem is schoolboat for school children to take them from their islandsto Bontang City. They are currently share their own boatto commute to Bontang. Most fishermen in Gusung andMalahing are at below poverty line. Few of them whohave a capital are economically better and acting ascollectors (middleman). The average educationattainment is primary school and there are few of themdid not even finish their primary school. From theirperspective, their main job is fishermen. If they or theirchildren could not continue their studies they finallyback as fishermen.

Gusung island is a cluster of land resulted fromthe rest of reclamation done by Fertilizer Company in

1979. This island is occupied by only one neighborhoodassociation (RT) consisting of 83 households[4]. Peoplein Gusung are adversely affected by odor caused by astartup process of fertilizer company occasionally occurin the morning around 7:00. Their settlement was alsoaffected by oil spill caused by tanker ship operatingaround their island. Gusung has potential of marineresources with variety of fish and for culturing sea-weed.

Malahing island is part of Tanjung Laut IndahVillage. In 2001, people started building settlement atthe sea. There are 52 households with 215 people, 31households are categorized as poor families[4]. Womenhave processed sea-weed as variety of snacks and theirproducts have been marketed and promoted to BontangCity and other places of East Kalimantan with theassistance from Fertilizer Company

4 Conclusion

Fishermen in the islands of Gusung and Malahing arecurrently facing the impact of climate change adverselyaffect their livelihood. In such uncertain condition, theyare powerless in encountering patron-client systemtrapping them in poverty. These findings are parallelwith previous research done by Shaffril, Senapati andGupta, and Pelras. Based on these findings, thefollowing recommendations are proposed:a. In addition to providing a loan as working capital,

it is required for industries to provide facilitationand extension specifically for sea weed culture. Thefacilitation is required to deal with sea-weed diseaseand to process sea-weed to be variety of snacks byinvolving women.

b. To deal with the trap of collectors, with theassistance of Fertilizer Company and otherindustries, it is necessary to build a mini plant forprocessing fish, so that there will be a value addedenjoyed by fishermen. This initiative requiresinvolvement of collectors to jointly manage themini plant

c. Based on need assessment done, it is necessary forFertilizer Company and other industries to provideneeded infrastructures such as providing a cleanwater by refining seawater or channeling a cleanwater from Guntung to Gusung or from TanjungIndah Village to Malahing. Other neededinfrastructures include additional class rooms forgrade 5 and 6 of Primary School in Malahing,school boats to commute school children fromGusung and Malahing to Bontang City.

References1. H. A. M. Shaffril, A.A. Samah, and J.L. D'Silva,

“Climate Change: Social Adaptation Strategies forFishermen”, “Adapting Towards Climate ChangeImpacts: Strategies For Small-Scale Fishermen inMalaysia”, Marine Policy 81 pp. 256–261, pp.196–20 (2017).

2. S. Senapati, and G. Vijaya, “Socio-EconomicVulnerability due to Climate Change: DerivingIndicators for Fishing Communities in Mumbai”,Marine Policy 76 pp. 90–97 (2017).

3. S. Miñarro, et al., “The Role of Patron-ClientRelations on The Behaviour of ArtisanalFishermen in The Spermonde Archipelago(Indonesia)”, Marine Policy 69 pp. 73-83 (2016).

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4. Badan Pusat Statistik Kota Bontang, “Bontangdalam Angka” (2016).

5. C. Pelras, “Manusia Bugis (The Bugis)”, Nalar andEcole Francaise d’Extreme-Orat (EFFO), Jakartaand Paris (2006).

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