Story from the Field: An Experiment of Tuna Processed Fish Product Diversification by Tanjung Air Panas Village Fishers’ Wives Group “Tuna Besty”

Most tuna handline fisheries in Indonesia are small-scale fisheries where fishing is the main livelihood for 90% of fishers. Therefore, the vulnerability of fishers and their families to the dynamics of changes in fishing patterns is very high, whether from changes in weather or seasons, applicable regulations, or from competition with other fishing gear.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was proven that small-scale fishermen were one of the communities most affected. We have posted article about Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Fishers and how bad weather conditions made small-scale fishermen unable to operate their catch activities.

To increase the resilience of these small-scale fishing communities against such dynamics, a community empowerment program is necessary, particularly in finding alternative livelihoods.

The women’s group of Tanjung Air Panas Village, “Tuna Besty“, has shown an initiative that deserves appreciation by conducting a trial of processed fish products diversification as part of the alternative livelihood of fishing and coastal families. This effort is not only aimed at increasing income for fishing families, but also opening-up wider market opportunities with various types of processed fish that have been tried by the Tuna Besty group.

Here is a story from the field about efforts to find alternative livelihoods for one community of fishers’ wives in Tanjung Air Panas Village, Maluku Province:

Since 2023, me together with the group of fishers’ wives from Tanjung Air Panas Village “Tuna Besty” held a series of trial activities for diversification of processed fish products. Product diversification is a business development strategy carried out by creating new products for new markets. The goal is to increase sales, business growth, and product competitiveness. This product diversification can also be used to help businesses adapt to the times. For example, if existing products are no longer relevant to the times, businesses can create new product lines.

Khadija Makatita with the Fishers’ Wives Group “Tuna Besty” mingling in the process of making tuna empek-empek (07/24). AP2HI/Riyanto Umabaihi

The Tanjung Air Panas Village has abundant tuna production potential. I keep thinking about how to utilize this to be more innovative in making products that meet nutritional needs and can be enjoyed by all groups, but still apply the principles of sustainable fisheries. This product diversification option also came to my mind as a good way to increase the value of tuna production and can generate alternative income in the future.

A package of tuna empek-empek made by Tuna Besty (07/24). AP2HI/Riyanto Umabaihi

One of the processed products chosen by the community is “tuna empek-empek”. This type of product was selected based on the community’s point of view who thought that the product was easy to make and not difficult to sell. Tuna empek-empek itself is a processed fish with a delicious taste and is in demand by the community. So it has the potential to be used as a trading product in the market.

In my opinion, direct assistance in the field is very important so that relationships with the local fishing community can be formed and maintained well. I also engaged directly in the activities and mingled to create an atmosphere of mutual belonging between AP2HI presence and the fishing community. The interesting thing for me was that the community’s member seemed to really enjoy every process we did. Maybe because this activity is in accordance with their passion and expertise in the field of cooking so the practice runs naturally.

The process of making tuna empek-empek by the Fishermen’s Wives Group “Tuna Besty” (07/24). AP2HI/Riyanto Umabaihi

The implementation of this trial activity is one form of AP2HI’s support for the empowerment of fishers’ wives. The empowerment carried out is expected to help increase the capacity and ability of fishers’ wives in seeing and utilizing existing opportunities. So that it can be used to help fishers in improving the economic level of their households. “We hope that with the best efforts that we have made, the products we produce can have a selling value in terms of taste and nutrition,” said one representative from the fishers’ wives group.

Author: Khadija Makatita

Editor: Ilham Alhaq, Nuriasih Nababan