Located in the western part of Bali Island and directly facing the Bali Strait, Jembrana Regency is one of the areas with good fisheries potential. The Bali Strait, which is included in Fisheries Management Areas (WPP) 573 and 713, has fisheries conditions that tend to be fully utilized even to excess, except for demersal fish commodities. In order to maintain the fishery resources, it needs to be supported by good fisheries management and marine conservation areas.

In order to support the establishment of conservation areas in Jembrana waters, the Bali Province Marine and Fisheries Service, WWF Indonesia Foundation, and supported by Indosat Ooredoo Hucthison, provided assistance to fishing groups in several villages in Jembrana, one of which is Air Kuning Village.

The mentoring activities to these fishermen groups began with an initial assessment of the gaps in the four criteria of sustainable fisheries, namely fishing that pays attention to the size of the catch, bycatch of Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) species, fulfills the elements of legality, and clear aspects of traceability. The hope is that following these criteria can be an improvement effort to ensure the sustainability of small-scale fishers' livelihoods amidst the current challenges and threats. For example, the declining condition of fish stocks, the practice of illegal or IUU (Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated) Fishing which is still intensively eradicated, the existence of threatened and protected marine biota to be preserved, and market requirements for environmentally friendly fishery products.

The results of the assessment indicate the issue of potential interactions with protected and endangered marine species such as sea turtles and sharks. Therefore, capacity building activities related to mitigation and bycatch handling are needed. So that fishermen can have knowledge and understanding of these matters, and can apply them when conducting fishing activities at sea. 

WWF Indonesia Foundation together with the Government of Jembrana Regency, in this case the Department of Marine Transportation and Fisheries and the Air Kuning Village Government, held a training on mitigation guidelines for bycatch of marine species in accordance with Better Management Practices (BMP) in small-scale fisheries. The activity, which was held at the Banjar Sabo meeting hall in Air Kuning Village, Jembrana Regency, was attended by 12 participants representing 4 banjars in Air Kuning Village.

The activity which was held on October 14, 2022 was opened by I Ketut Nantra, S. Pi, and I Gusti Putu Artama, S. Sos as representatives of the Department of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of Jembrana Regency. On this occasion, the trainees were also briefed by Samsuddin as the Head of Perbekel of Air Kuning Village.

In his delivery, I Ketut Nantra said, "Hopefully, the results of this training activity can increase the insight of the trainee fishermen to support the protection of ecosystem health and management of capture fisheries. So that after this training, the trainee fishermen can apply the new knowledge or knowledge that has been obtained from this activity."

As in other trainings, the bycatch handling mitigation training this time also began with a pre-test session to determine the initial knowledge of the participants. Then, the activity continued with the delivery of material and simulation practice of handling bycatch such as turtles and sharks in fishing gear and nets. The material presented was about the introduction of Marine ETP Species, pre-handling, handling stages, post-handling and types of mitigation that can prevent bycatch.  In the practical session guided by Chaerul Ahadi as Bycatch Specialist of WWF Indonesia Foundation, the participants were also given examples of how to handle and treat ETP species caught, both things that can be done and things that should not be done using props. Furthermore, this series of training activities was closed with a post-test session by all training participants.

The average pre-test score of the participants was 46.67% and the post-test score was 75.83%. Based on these values, it can be seen that there is an increase in pre- and post-training scores by 63%. This also indicates an increased understanding and additional information from the participants regarding responsible fishing practices by handling and minimizing the incidence of ETP species caught in their daily fishing activities.

"After attending the training, we can know more about how to release turtles, sharks or mantas properly. For example, if a manta or shark is caught in a net, its gills should always be in the water or always exposed to water, and if a turtle is caught in a net, make it calm first, then slowly release it from the net," said Tajri, head of the Banjar Anyar Fishermen in Air Kuning Village.

After attending this training, the fishermen are expected to become agents of change who can help in disseminating understanding to other fellow fishermen.  In the future, the WWF Indonesia Foundation together with the Jembrana Regency Government, including the Village Government and Fisheries Extension Officers will carry out monitoring activities related to the compliance of fishermen's practices with ETP species bycatch handling and mitigation techniques. In addition, this training activity is also planned to be implemented in other potential locations, around the Marine Protected Area, Jembrana Regency. Thus, it is expected that more fisheries business actors will be exposed to information and have an understanding of mitigation issues to minimize bycatch of ETP species. The fisheries businesses are also expected to contribute to the implementation of sustainable fisheries programs in supporting the Marine Protected Area establishment process in Jembrana Regency.

Through this training activity with fishermen in Air Kuning Village, it will also be a good input for the improvement of the best practice document on mitigation and handling of bycatch (BMP bycatch).

The document can be downloaded here: Sharks Management and Turtles Management