Fishers in eastern Indonesia struggle as rough seas keep them ashore

Fishers in the eastern Indonesian Maluku Islands are facing challenges as rough seas keep them from venturing out to sea, according to an initial assessment by local monitoring and interviews. Yustinus Pesireron, a 64-year-old fisherman from Kaibobo village on Seram Island, reported not going to sea for nearly a month, which is the longest break in his three decades of fishing.

Fishing represents the primary source of income for the village of around 1,800 residents. Pesireron explained that the money earned from selling his catch is crucial for daily household necessities and school fees for his three of six children.

Data collected by partners of the Blue Ventures conservation group, headquartered in the UK, indicates that the average catch per fishing trip in coastal waters around Ambon and Seram islands surged to just 3.6 kilograms (7.9 pounds) in April-July 2026, down from 8.3 kg (18.3 pounds) in 2025 and 10.6 kg (23.4 pounds) in 2024. The group attributes the decline not to dwindling fish populations, but rather to rough seas and higher waves that limit the duration fishers can spend at sea and the distance they can travel.

Pesireron acknowledged that even on less favorable weather conditions, some fishers still venture out to catch fish, but the haul is often insufficient to cover fuel costs and basic food.