Diverse social and business networks shape the puerulus harvest industry along southern Indonesia

Abstract

Puerulus harvesting plays a crucial role in sustaining coastal communities in Indonesia. However, there is limited information available on the local socio-economic impact of this fishery. This study aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of this complex fishery system and the socio-economic variability within the puerulus fishery. The study examines the social dimensions by analysing connections among fishers and traders in diverse regions to identify trading variations and supply chain arrangements. Data from 75 puerulus fishers and 12 traders in Cisolok, Cilacap, Prigi, Popoh, and Lombok was collected through structured questionnaires, profiling livelihood conditions, operations, social networks, business arrangements, supply chains. The results highlight the significant impact of robust information sharing and agreements within local trade networks on the financial benefits generated through puerulus fishing for coastal fishers. Fishing and business arrangements are influenced by the characteristics of the local trade network, including geographic and economic resources. In summary, puerulus harvesting is important for coastal fishers, interconnected with trade relationships and networks. Transparency in information sharing through patron-client systems in puerulus fisheries is found to be a significant factor influencing the generation and distribution of benefits across different stakeholders in the supply chain.