Fish-Bombing Fishermen From Barang Lompo Island So
Fish-Bombing Fishermen From Barang Lompo Island So
ABSTRACT
At present, corruption in the fishing sector has become a severe threat to the effectiveness of marine
resource management. However, corruption activities that occur in fishing communities are still rarely
revealed to the public due to the complexity and lack of researchers who are interested in learning them.
The research aims to understand the behavior of the fish-bomb fishermen in Barang Lompo Island, South
Sulawesi, in order to arrange suitable policy and program choice for reducing of using fish bombs in fishing
activity. This research is conducted by a qualitative approach and ethnography method (participation observa-
tion) as well in a time series since 1999. The result showed that the corruption behaviors among the Barang
Lompo fishermen are caused by several factors, i.e., aggressive culture, poverty, cultural burden and cultural
pride, and consumerism. Corruption, in this case, makes a fishing business more efficient, with short working
time indicators, and catches a lot.
Keywords: fish bombing, workforce network, corruption, South Sulawesi
ABSTRAK
Saat ini, korupsi di sektor perikanan telah menjadi ancaman besar bagi efektivitas pengelolaan sumber daya
laut. Namun, kegiatan korupsi yang terjadi di komunitas nelayan masih jarang terungkap kepada publik karena
kompleksitas dan kurangnya peneliti yang tertarik untuk mempelajarinya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mema-
hami perilaku nelayan ikan bom di Pulau Barang Lompo, Sulawesi Selatan, dalam rangka menyusun kebijakan
dan pilihan program yang sesuai untuk mengurangi penggunaan bom ikan dalam kegiatan penangkapan ikan.
Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan pendekatan kualitatif dan metode etnografi (observasi partisipasi) serta dalam
deret waktu sejak 1999. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perilaku korupsi di kalangan nelayan Barang Lompo
disebabkan oleh beberapa faktor, yaitu budaya agresif, kemiskinan, budaya beban dan kebanggaan budaya, dan
konsumerisme. Korupsi, dalam hal ini, membuat bisnis perikanan lebih efisien, dengan indikator waktu kerja yang
pendek, dan hasil tangkapan yang banyak.
Kata kunci: pemboman ikan, jaringan tenaga kerja, korupsi, Sulawesi Selatan
72 ZAELANY | FISH-BOMBING FISHERMAN FROM PULAU ...
2003). The causes include ( Zaelany, 2007) the culture). Knowledge of habits, norms, cultural
alleged corruption activities carried out by a values, where good and bad behavior and the
handful of law enforcers who uses the work behavior of other parties towards business
of fishers who use destructive fishing gear and services are considerations that form the basis
capital owners who utilize fishermen’s poverty. for fishers in making decisions (Zaelany, 2007).
Corruption is interpreted as any form of Moreover, fishermen will also discuss with
abuse of office or public power to gain personal their friends, who are shipmen in searching for
gain (Nas, Price, and Weber, 1986). The imple- sea products (Zaelany, 2007), about how to be
mentation of corruption can be done in the able to obtain many results with minimal costs
office or outside the office while doing work or and risks as small as possible. Indeed, the role
outside of work time. The authority possessed of Punggawa (leader of a group of fishermen,
by a person can also be capital, which is used the owner of the capital) has a considerable role
to obtain additional profits or income illegally. that significantly influences the course of group
Corruption in Indonesia is often described as discussions (Pelras, 2000). The considerations
a tangled thread that is difficult to decipher made in this discussion are based on the
(Sadi, 2018). Corruption activities occur outside adaptation of existing systems in the group
the office and in fishing communities are still (Kohl, 1991).
rarely revealed, because of the complexity of
The negatively emotional state of mind of
the problems and the lack of researchers who
fishermen determines whether they take part in
are interested in learning them. Corruption
the network of corruption or not.
behavior that occurs in fisheries activities does
not always have a negative impact, there is also In a sense, the will join the Pa’es group
a positive impact on the efficiency of business (fishermen using fish bombs) or not, whether
operations, in the sense of increasing the to give bribes or give some money requested
income of fishermen (Nas, Price and Weber, by unscrupulous law enforcement officers or
1986; Bardhan, 1997). not (D’andrade, 1995). All decisions will be
taken, taking into account the costs that must
The purpose of the paper is to analyze
be incurred for persons must be lower than the
corruption activities that occur during fishing results to be obtained.
activities. To that end, this paper uses the
At the Punggawa level, something similar
fishermen and fishing practices from Barang also becomes a struggle in his mind. Is it profit-
Lompo Island, South Sulawesi Province. Fishers able or not to develop fishermen’s business with
using fish bombs on Barang Lompo Island fish bombs? What if caught by law enforcement
are called Pa’es fishermen. This research was officers? Cultural values that prioritize success
in the culture of Barang Lompo Island people
conducted in a time series by using a qualitative
encourage them to take these risks. Punggawa
approach and applying ethnographic methods will prepare a strategy to minimize the risks that
(observation participation) since 1999. This might occur by calculating the opportunities
article is only part of the results of the research that exist in the Pa’es fishermen business but
that has been done. provides maximum benefits to the retainer.
The post-structuralist approach can be
used to approach the phenomenon of fisher-
THEORETICAL APPROACH man adaptation strategies. The myth that the
When a group of fishermen wants to make an ef- poor are environmentally destructive is now
fort to search for fish destructively, for example, considered inadequate. Local people also have
by using fish bombs as the tool, in fact, there has environmental adaptations which in their
been negative emotional self-talk in him, which way, make improvements to environmental
is supported by cognitive knowledge (especially degradation (local wisdom, the second round
of common property) (Hardin, 1968). The idea
74 ZAELANY | FISH-BOMBING FISHERMAN FROM PULAU ...
that began to be built in this perspective is that, One of the critical questions in destructive
in general, ‘the rich will use more resources and fishing is whether fishing using bombs is a big
have a far greater impact than the poor’ (Forsyth, mistake or not. For law enforcers and fisheries
2003). Based on this idea, social exploitation in authority, fishing with bombs is a crime with
fishing communities is very important to study. sanctions for imprisonment and classified as
The different views of the parties (gov- illegal activities, as the eradication of illegal
ernment, fishermen, traders, law enforcers) logging is often carried out along with fishing
about the activities of fishermen using fish operations for destructive users such as fish
bombs often cause “more difficulties” to solve bombs and cyanide in South Sulawesi Province.
problems. Each party insists on the truth of Meanwhile, for fishers, this activity is a violation,
its perspective and considers the other party not a crime. From the perspective of fishermen’s
guilty, unmanageable, unwilling to follow the culture, stealing is a crime, consuming liquor
right, stupid, destructive, and other ways. This and going to prostitution is delinquency that
kind of attitude has been observed by social is worse than the violation of the use of fish
scientists, especially anthropologists, as the bombs. The use of destructive technology to
cause of the failure of various development catch fish is more aimed at earning a living for
programs. Failure to understand the reason the family because it is considered a better value.
someone chooses a particular attitude is one of
the inhibiting factors in determining the steps RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
to compromise to find solutions to smooth Barang Lompo Island which is one of the islands
development (D’Andrade, 1995). of the Spermonde Islands, which is located west
Cognitive factors, which is how a person of Makassar. The fishermen intensively used fish
understands his environment and behaves bombs as a technology for fishing in the 1990s.
according to his understanding, is one aspect Some things can be stated as a discussion of
that attracts the attention of social scientists. this study, namely identifying things that cause
Then comes the concept of the emic view and the Paeses service system to exist for years (see
etic view (Kohl, 1991). Emic is interpreted as the Figure 1). There are three levels of causes. The
way the local community views its environment first level is an internal factor, which is a push
or the problems it faces, whereas ethics is an factor for fishers to choose fish bomb fishing
‘outsider’ view of the local community and the jobs. These factors are: aggressive culture,
problems faced by the local community. Often poverty, cultural burden, and cultural pride,
emic and etic produce different perceptions. and consumerism
The difference arises due to various things, 1. Aggressive Culture
such as limited knowledge of outsiders on
The cultural value system in the community
aspects understood by local communities, dif-
glorifies aggressiveness and courage. It can be
ferences in interests, and differences in cultural
seen in the existing service rituals, as well as the
background.
symbols related to the aggressiveness in trying,
If the other party carries out development courage, skills, as in the ceremonies of birth,
somewhere, they need to understand the pregnancy, and marriage.
understanding of the local community. When
2. Poverty Factor
different interests arise, a compromise must
be made immediately without coercion. The The characters are as follows: 1) low education,
imposition of unilateral interests will only lead 2) high operating costs for fishing, with fuel
to considerable resistance to development prices and supplies rising steadily periodically;
efforts. Finally, the issue of cultural differences the price has multiplied compared to the usual
should be approached by not prioritizing one’s price, because the cost of supplies is often paid
own culture. In this case, understanding the after the operation of fishing (res), 3) the price
cultural categories of society is very important. of goods for daily necessities on the island is
very high compared to prices in Makassar, 4)
JISSH VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1, 2019 (71–79) 75
those in charge of taking care and overseeing This discussion shows that the hypothesis
the distribution of fertilizers) with illegal that many parties have believed so far about
traders. It happens because fertilizer sales have the reason fishermen use destructive technol-
a significant profit. Fertilizer prices outside the ogy is not entirely appropriate. Factors such
port can be three-four times high. as poverty, ignorance, and ignorance driven
by greed have not been enough to encourage
From Pare-pare Port, fertilizer will be dis-
fishers to use destructive capture technology
tributed to various places in the South Sulawesi
for many years.
province. One of the main destinations of this
fertilizer distribution is the city of Makassar, as This strategy for changing destructive fish-
the center of illegal trade in fish bomb materials ing practices should begin with efforts to stop
and also to Galesong and Sinjai. Furthermore, the illegal trade in fish bomb materials. There is
from the city of Makassar, the fertilizer, along always negative emotional self-talk among the
with axes and detonators, was sent to various fishermen when they will buy materials to make
other places, including to various islands in the fish bombs or when sailing to use them. They
Spermonde Islands. Trading of materials for fish realized that the use of fish bombs is forbidden.
bomb makers is carried out in strict confidence When this research was carried out, many times,
and only known to certain people (Hasbullah, the illegal trading halt operations were carried
2006).
Figure 2 The Flow of Bomb material and models of service activities ranging from the primary
strata in Pare-pare to the fishermen of Pa’es
JISSH VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1, 2019 (71–79) 77
out, and the results were that fish bomb material by program activists because of the tendency
was challenging to obtain by fishers. It may still to reject their programs. An intensive personal
be obtained in limited quantities, but the price approach to the Punggawa will produce results
was costly, so fishers were forced to stop their if it is taken seriously.
business. They did not do any service because
Therefore, the hypothesis that fishermen
there were no other fishing gear or the skills to
using destructive technology is actually the
use other fishing equipment. It is because they
potential to turn into sustainable fishers
have not used the fishing gear for a long time
by observing the socio-cultural aspects and
other than fish bombs.
conducting efforts to empower fishermen
The efforts to stop the illegal trade of systematically is correct in the sense that it can
fish bomb materials have generally been only be pursued.
on islands, which are on the third strata of the
illegal trade chain. There are almost no efforts CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY
made to stop the illegal trade on the second IMPLICATIONS
strata (i.e., in the cities of Makassar, Galessong,
Sinjai) and the first strata in the city of Pare-pare Eradicating destructive fishing has to be the
which is the entry point for fertilizer material main homework and intense effort in stopping
from Malaysia. When this research was under- the illegal trade in fish-bomb material. But,
way, efforts were made to stop the illegal trade Such effort alone is inadequate. Hence, the
in the second strata, and as a result, fishermen subsequent effort need to do is changing the
had difficulty obtaining fish bomb material. destructive fishing to sustainable practices
through the implementation of community-
The strategy is not just to stop illegal based management programs (Crawford et al.,
trading but must be followed by various other 2000; Nikijuluw, 2002). Those programs have
supporting programs. It has to be the right to concern about establishing marine protected
policy of the central government and led areas, developing friendly-productive-activities
directly by officials at the ministerial level to environment, and strengthening an institution
stop the illegal trading because regional officials that allows stakeholders to play an active role.
are proven unable. Business services by using
destructive technology are sustainable because There are at least three methods that can
of corruption. If corruption can be eradicated, be developed in community-based manage-
it will be easy to stop the illegal trade in fish ment for policymaking: methods of imitation,
bomb-making materials. From the results of changes in cognition, and modeling. The
the research, it is proven that if the fisheries purpose of these three methods is so that
management and law enforcement ‘want’ will stakeholders have the same opinion (shared
be able to stop the illegal trade of fish bomb- understanding) about the types of fishing gear,
making materials, which means it will stop damage to marine natural resources, types of
destructive fishing. violations, and problem-solving (solutions).
The ultimate goal, of course, is to change the
One of the social capital often been behavior of the fish bomb service providers.
neglected in changing destructive fishing on
Barang Lompo Island is sustainable fishing. Indonesians love to imitate, for example,
It has never been an intensive approach to through visualization. If a film is shown on
the Punggawa and assisting them in finding video or TV about the effects of misconduct and
alternative jobs or environmentally friendly what should be the behavior, it can be imitated.
fishing gear. If the approach to Punggawa We can also visualize or display an example
is successful, and they can accept the idea (model) or the workings of foreign fishermen,
conveyed, it might make the Sawi (the crew) for example, fishermen from the United States
will soon follow in the steps of the Punggawa. that are exemplary. The most important thing
During this time, the Punggawa were ‘hostile’ is the change in cognition. This requires great
curiosity. If there is a strong curiosity, then
78 ZAELANY | FISH-BOMBING FISHERMAN FROM PULAU ...
changes will be made for the scheme of thinking not cause sympathy. Instead, an antipathy
about how fishermen should work. Changes attitude arises. So far, such attitudes have arisen
in impaired cognition such as those have been in efforts to stop the practice of using fish bombs
worked on for generations from their ancestors. (destructive attitude when asking fishermen to
This process of change can be supported by switch to environmentally friendly technology).
information such as the destruction of the
The entrance for the implementation of
ecosystem. There is no inheritance for the next
this program should be “escorted” by a cultural
generation, the difficulty of finding large fish
mediator, namely someone who is well known
because the use of fish bombs has made small
to the people of the island and is socially very
fish die. This change in cognition essentially
well received by the community. Without this,
requires sufficient intelligence / intellectual
it would be very challenging to carry out these
factors so that curiosity can be grown, then the
programs in communities belonging to the
schema in cognition is changed as it should.
bond group with the main characteristics of
Imitation methods and modeling methods are
low trust to other parties. The most effective
more comfortable to apply in behavioral change
social capital used as a channel for terminating
efforts.
destructive fishing programs on this island is the
Implementation of the agenda, for now, Punggawa. If they agree that they will stop doing
should be led directly by the Minister of destructive fishing, the crew will also follow
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. That is because the changes made by the Punggawa. Cultural
public trust in officials in the regions is in mediators should be people who can bridge the
deficit. Local government bureaucracy and law program activists with these retainers.
enforcers are not authoritative because the
Meetings should be held in the houses of
population regards them as ‘tribute collectors’
Punggawa, not in the village head’s office or
from the community, even those who should
elsewhere, because of their different opinion.
be tasked with eradicating this matter, instead
If the meeting is held at the Punggawa house,
use it for their own benefit.
all the Sawi will be present, and the atmosphere
Besides, the problem of implementing of the meeting will be more ease. During this
various existing programs is not participatory. time, the meetings were held in official places
Most programs only reach local elites, in which such as village offices (Kantor kelurahan) or in
donations in the form of goods and funds the fish auction office (Tempat Pelelangan Ikan),
stop for them only (local term: uang mati). For which retainers often were absent and one crew
example, the problem of establishing a Marine member only represented courtier.
Protected Area (Daerah Perlindungan Laut) and
providing various assistance from the Marine Acknowledgment
and Fisheries Agency and from the local govern- The author would like to thank the main
ment, which most residents do not know about respondents of this research, the fishermen of
and are only enjoyed by several local elites. Barang Lompo island, for sharing information
The approach used so far is coercive. It and experience about fish bombing activities
only prohibits, captures, and punishes without in their area.
considering the welfare of the community. It
results in the marginalization of fishermen. In- REFERENCES
stead, the approach used must be changed with Bardhan, P. (1997). “Corruption and Development:
an approach based on participatory programs A Review of issues.” Journal of Economic
that incorporate the issue of community welfare Literature, 35, 1320 - 1346
as its orientation. The ‘destructive’ attitude Brandt, A. (1984). Fishing Catching Methods of the
(deteriorating the work of fish bombers and not World. Farnham, Surrey: Fishing News
associating with the community) in prohibiting Books ltd.
fishermen from doing ‘destructive fishing’ will Lauretta Burke (WRI), Liz Selig (WRI) dan Mark
Spalding
JISSH VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1, 2019 (71–79) 79
Burke, L., Selig, L., & Spalding, M. (2002). Terumbu Oliver, R.A.R. (2002). Sustainable Fishery Manage-
Karang yang Terancam di Asia Tenggara. ment in Asia. Tokyo: Asian Productivity
Jakarta: World Resources Institute. Organization
The Coral Reef Alliance. (2003). The Exploitative Pelras, C. (2000). Patron-client ties among the Bugis
Fishing. Retrieved Maret 17, 2004, from and Makassarese of South Sulawesi. In R. Tol,
http://www.coral.org K.V. Dijk, & G. Acciaoli (eds), Authority and
Crawford, B., Balgos, M., & Pagdilao, C.R. (2000). Enterprise Among the people of South Sulawesi.
Community based marine sanctuaries in the Leiden: KITLV Press
Philippines: A Report on Focus Group Discus- Pet-Soede, L & M.V.Erdmann. (1998). Blast Fishing
sion. PCAMRD Book Series No.30. University in Southwest Sulawesi, Indonesia. Naga, The
of Rhodes Island: Coastal Resources Centre ICLARM Quarterly, 21 (2), 4 – 9
D’Andrade, R. (1995). The Development of Cogni- Kadi, Saurip. (2018). Aparat Ternakkan Mafia. Harian
tive Anthropology. New York: Cambridge Kompas, 8 Juni 2018.
University Sundstrom, A. (2012). Corruption and regula-
Da Rocha, J.M., Santiago, C. & Sebastian, V. 2012. The tory compliance: Experimental findings from
Common Fisheries Policy: An enforcement South. Marine Policy, 16 (2012), 1255-1264
problem. Marine Policy, 36, 1309-1314 Zaelany, A. A. (2003). “Becoming the Fish Bomb
Destructive Fishing Watch. (2003). Penangkapan Fisherman as an Adaptation Strategy in
Ikan Tidak Ramah Lingkungan di Kepulauan Economic Crisis : Case Study of Pulau
Spermonde, Sulawesi Selatan. Jakarta : DFW Karang, Indonesia ”. In The Role of Dialogue
dan COREMAP and Networking: from A Transitional to an
Forsyth, T. (2003). Critical Political Ecology: The Industrialized Country, Proceeding of an
Politics of Environmental Science. New York: International Symposium Cum Workshop in
Routledge Hanoi, Vietnam
Hardin, G. (1968). Tragedy of the Common. Science, Zaelany, A. A. Et al. (2006). “Persepsi Tiga Stake-
162, 1243-1248 holder terhadap Pekerjaan Nelayan Bom Ikan
di Pulau Barrang Lompo, Provinsi Sulawesi
Hasbullah, J. (2006). Social capital (menuju keung-
Selatan. Jurnal Pesisir dan Lautan. Volume
gulan budaya manusia Indonesia). Jakarta:
7, no.2.
MR-United Press
Zaelany, A.A. (2007). Perilaku para pihak yang terlibat
Kohl K.H. (1991). Ethnologie: die Wissenschaft vom
dalam kegiatan penangkapan ikan di Pulau
kulturell Fremde. Muenchen: Verlag C.H Beck.
Barrang Lompo (Makassar), dan transformasi
Nas, T.F., Price, A.C., & Weber, C.T. (1986). A Policy- menuju perikanan yang berkelanjutan (unpub-
oriented Theory of Corruption. The American lished dissertation). Institut Pertanian Bogor,
Political Science Review 80(12), 107-119 Bogor, Indonesia.
Nikijuluw, V.P.H. (2002). Rezim Pengelolaan Sumber-
daya Perikanan. Jakarta: Pustaka Cidesindo