The Perspective of Small-Scale Fisherman Toward the Seagrass

Conservation Contributes to the Sustainability of Friendly

Environmental: a Case Study in Coastal Waters of East Lombok

Abdul Syukur, Mahrus and Syachruddin AR

Postgraduate Program and Department of Sciences Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas

Mataram, Jalan Majapahit No 56 Mataram Nusa Tenggra Barat, Indonesia

Keywords: Small-Scale fisherman, seagrass conservation, friendly environmental cultivation.

Abstract: Seagrass is the marine plant species that has essential ecological functions for the sustainability of fish

resources and biodiversity. However, it has long been neglected, not fully conserved as well as other

ecosystems (mangroves and coral reefs). This study aims to assess the small fisherman's perspective on

seagrass sustainability through eco-friendly cultivation over the study sites. The data were collected through

direct observation, questionnaires, interviews and discussions. All data was analyzed using descriptive

statistical analyses. The results showed the small-scale fishermen over the study sites led to classifying

seagrasses based on their morphological characteristics and seagrass functions. Most of respondent's

assessment ended up finding it quite useful. The ecological knowledge of small-scale fishermen on seagrass

conservation is important, especially for the sustainability of friendly environmental cultivation. Therefore, it

should be included in the seagrass conservation policy at the local, regional and national level which

empowers the small-scale fishermen for friendly environmental cultivation.

1 INTRODUCTION

Seagrasses are flowering plants. They grow over the

marine environment and support the sustainability of

fishery (Ruseler et al., 2008: Fortes et al., 2011:

Cullen-Unsworth et al., 2013). Nevertheless, the

threat to seagrass, particularly in Indonesia coastal

water, could have a negative impact on the

sustainability of fish resources (Syukur et al., 2017).

Seagrass ecosystems can be beneficial for monitoring

the health of coral reefs (Syukur and Santoso, 2017).

However, the seagrass had been long neglected in its

protection at the national and regional levels in

coastal area of Indonesia (Nadiarti et al., 2012;

Syukur, 2016; Syukur et al., 2016). Therefore, in this

case, the concept of environment-friendly farming

may be considered as a strategy for the conservation

of seagrass beds (Syukur et al., 2016). The

aquasilviculture technology could serve as a model

for initiating further conservation strategies in the

Philippine mangrove forest and other critical

wetlands (Flores, 2016). This paper focuses on the

way small-scale fishermen valuing the seagrass

conservation to support the sustainability of eco-

friendly cultivation in the study area.

2 MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted on April to November

2015 and April to November 2016 in the coastal

areas of East Lombok. The geographical position

of the research area is 116°37'-116°45' east longitude

and 8°17'- 8°18' latitude south (Figure 1).

There was a 100 cmall-scale fisherman selected

for the purpose of this study and research paper.

1) They had a minimum of 30 years’experience

as fishermen in their profession. 2) They fished

around the seagrass beds. 3) They had a knowledge

of seagrass and biota. 4) They were aware of the

conservation (Syukur et al., 2017). Data were

obtained through the survey, questionnaires,

interviews, and focus group discussions. Data was

analysed by descriptive statistical analysis method.

Syukur, A., Mahrus, . and AR, S.

The Perspective of Small-Scale Fisherman Toward the Seagrass Conservation Contributes to the Sustainability of Friendly Environmental: a Case Study in Coastal Waters of East Lombok.

DOI: 10.5220/0007547705950598

In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference Postgraduate School (ICPS 2018), pages 595-598

ISBN: 978-989-758-348-3

595

Figure 1: Research Location (Syukur et al., 2016).

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1 The Fishermen Knowledge on

Seagrass in the Study Area

Ecological knowledge of the local communities can

be observed through its natural resources such as

seagrasses. (Ronnback and de la Torre-Castro 2004)

and the small-scale fishermen’s understanding of eco

system in the study area (Syukur, 2013). These points

can be better understood from the following examples

1) the fishermen’s knowledge of seasional fruit-such

as as Enhalus acoroides. 2) The way the fishermen

spread seagrasses, Halophila. 3) They called them

green seagrasses, Cymodoce. 4) They also identified

seagrass grass, Halodulle pinifolia and Syringodium

isotifolium. In this case, their perception is mainly

influenced by their livelihoods (Daerden et al.,

2005).

Table 1: The source of the threat seagrass at the study area.

Sco

Scal

Frequency Functio

nal

Impact

Time

Reco

very

1 <

0,5

Never

occurs

impact

< 1

year

2 0,5

Rare Single

species

1 -5

yea

– 1

3 1

– 5

Occasio

nal

Single

tropic

level

5 - 10

year

4 5

– 10

Annual

regular

Multiple

tropic

level

10 - 20

year

> 10

Persis

tent

Entire

commu

nity

> 20

year

Threats Scale Frequency Functio

nal

act

Recov

ery

time

develop

ent o

fishery

doc

3 1 5 5

oat

ancho

2 4 1 1

over

fishing

1 4 4 2

estruc

ive

fishin

2 4 4 3

Indonesia has been aware of the importance of

seagrass conservation for marine sustainability and

marine biodiversity. The results of this study is shown

in (Table 1). The assessment of the level of

knowledge of small-scale fishermen about the value

of seagrass existence was presented in (Table 2). The

accumulation of ecological knowledge of fishermen

can be illustrated by their perspectives on seagrass

conservation. The fishermen’s level understanding of

the ecological aspects and threats of seagrass

sustainability at the study area are a basis for

assessing the benefit of conservation value in the

area.. In the in-depth discussions and interviews, the

respondents stated that over-exploitation and

destructive fishing were the main source of threat. It

was worthed quoting that more than 88% of

respondents stated seagrass conservation is urgently

needed to prevent the the destruction and over-

exploitative of the area.

Table 2. The distribution of respondents based on the

assessment of seagrass benefits to fish and seagrass marine

biota n= 100.

Parameter

Distribution respondents

bene

fits

Less

bene

fits

Enou

ene

Bene

fits

Ver

ICPS 2018 - 2nd International Conference Postgraduate School

596

fits ben

fits

1 2 3 4 5

Supporting

Services

abitat of all fish 0 12 40 30 1

abitat of small

fish

0 3 45 31 1

eeding grounds 0 0 42 44 1

The place of the

fish sheltered

from the sun and

redators

0 0 65 20 1

abitat of marine

life other than

fish

0 0 56 34 1

abitat of

arine life

other than fish

0 0 68 20 1

ater fertility

esources

0 0 36 43 1

Supporting

vices out

uts

0 0 72 19 9

egulating and

aintenance

ud traps 0 0 54 41 5

Increase the

clarity of

seawate

0 0 44 52 4

Coastal

rotection from

abrasion

0 10 37 40 1

The regulates

gas through

uptake and

eleases O

0 5 64 23 8

3.2 The Friendly Environmental

Cultivation in the Study Area

Seagrass conservation was an instrument of

increasing income of small-scale fishermen. In

addition, environmentally friendly aquaculture can

improve the livelihood of small-scale fishermen

(Perez et al., 2012). The in-depth interviews with

fishermen confirmed that the current cultivation was

the source of their livelihood. Their perspectives for

cultivation had to do with 1) sufficient time. (2) The

cultivation security was ensured by their own group

who belonged to it, and by the new employment

sources for fishing and community families. 3) The

cultivation had been seen as a means saving.

Furthermore, two other things which observed that

seemed to secured the sustainability, inputs (seeds

and feed), and utilization of the marine environment

in non-destructive ways, for example; bombs,

potassium and damaging tools. In addition, the

cultivation management system was also the

deciding factor, such as; the management of seeds and

feed as input production. The security management

was carried out together with the adjacent floating net

cage placement system. This had to be followed by

marketing managed directly by the group.

To achieve the goal of environmental friendly

farming, a cooperative apporoach was done. This

economic development instrument was relevant with

a group of small-scale fishermen. This approach

suited the small-scale fishermen with a cooperation

habit in groups as a single working unit for fishermen

in catching fish (Wright et al., 2006; Basurto et al.,

2013). This study proved that environmentally

cultivation friendly 1) fish seeds of environmentally

friendly aquaculture can be found from the

surrounding environment. 2) The fish seeds always

available for propagation. 3) The fish foods can be

obtained from the environment. 4) It had a high

economic value and marketable. 5) It became a new

income source for families's of small-scale fishermen.

4 CONCLUSION

Seagrass conservation can empower the coastal

communities, especially small-scale fishermen. The

knowledge of small-scale fishermen about the

seagrass ecology is significant to describe their

perspective about the importance of conservation.

The seagrass conservation has a significant

contribution to the sustainability of eco-friendly

cultivation on a small scale fisherman in the study

area. Therefore, it should be written in the policy at

local, regional and national level of seagrass

conservation based on small-scale fishermen through

a friendly environmental cultivation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors are thankful to the Directorate General of

Strengthening Research and Development,

Directorateof Research and Community Service,

Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher

Education of Indonesia for providing the funding

for carrying out this study. The authors would also

like to thank Prof. Sulaiman Depamede, a senior

scientist from the University of Mataram Indonesia,

The Perspective of Small-Scale Fisherman Toward the Seagrass Conservation Contributes to the Sustainability of Friendly Environmental: a

Case Study in Coastal Waters of East Lombok

597

for constructive criticism and comments during

preparing this article.

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