By: Miko Budi Raharjo (Director of TAKA Foundation)

It has been almost three years since the improvement of mangrove crab fisheries management in Mojo Village, Ulujami Sub-district, Pemalang Regency. Starting from the initial assessment (Pre Assessment) related to the condition of mangrove crab fisheries in mid-2013 until the implementation of the work program (workplan) of mangrove crab fisheries improvement (Fisheries Improvement Program/FIP) by the "Kepiting Lestari" group. Now Kepiting Lestari has changed its name to "Kepiting Bakau Lestari" (KBL) at the initiation of the TAKA Foundation together with WWF-Indonesia and Mojo Village mangrove crab fishermen towards sustainable mangrove crab utilization.

On December 19-20, 2016, TAKA Foundation together with WWF-Indonesia as a member of JARNUS (Jaringan Kerja Perikanan Bertanggung Nusantara) conducted an evaluation of BMP Compliance (BMPC) of Mangrove Crab Commodity to Sustainable Mangrove Crab Group in Mojo Village, Ulujami, Pemalang Regency. With the aim to determine the extent to which BMP implementation has been carried out in the KBL Group, the evaluation includes assessments related to fishermen's institutions, legality aspects, conservation aspects, social aspects and product quality aspects. Through in-depth interviews with seven fishermen from the KBL group, a score of 66.09% out of a total of 70% was obtained based on the standard agreement set by WWF-Indonesia. From the results of the search and interviews, it resulted in several evaluations that need to be improved from the management of mangrove crab fishing in Mojo Village, including synergy between local fisheries management institutions in a participatory manner, maximizing the recording of catch or landing results (logbook) of mangrove crabs in a sustainable manner, aspects of law enforcement related to limiting the size of mangrove crab catches above 250 grams and providing trash bins on boats.

"Hopefully after this training, the capacity of the Kepiting Bakau Lestari fishermen group in catching mangrove crabs will be better and become an example for other fishermen so that mangrove crabs in Pemalang can continue to be utilized for a long time" Mr. Tolani - Pembina Kepiting Bakau Lestari Group

There is still a lot of work to be done to improve the mangrove crab fishery in Mojo Village, Pemalang Regency. The follow-up of this mangrove crab BMP training is that the team that has previously participated in providing material can continue to provide assistance to fishermen groups in improving fisheries management so that the participants, especially fishermen who are members of the KBL Group, are able to implement mangrove crab fishing techniques that are more sustainable and sustainable.
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Kepiting Bakau Lestari, which was formed in 2014, has participated in the training of Better Management Practices (BMP) for mangrove crab commodities in mid-January 2016 to increase the capacity of the group from a technical point of view and understanding of sustainable fishing with the Pemalang Marine and Fisheries Service (DKP) and several community leaders held in Mojo Village. In practice, last year's BMP training, the team from Taka Foundation and WWF-Indonesia provided materials on mangrove crab description in identification, fisheries improvement management through group strengthening and fishing activities, logbook introduction and simulation of mangrove crab measurement to vessel licensing for packaging and shipping.