Innovation from the Coast of Kore: How a 15-Watt Light is Changing Tuna Fishing in West Nusa Tenggara

On a quiet night off the coast of Kore, Bima Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, Wira Supati, AP2HI’s field staff for NTB, watches a faint 15-watt light flicker from Pak Salahudin’s fishing boat.
To most, it’s just a small lamp.
But for Kore’s handline fishing community, that glow symbolizes innovation, efficiency, and hope for a more sustainable fishing future.

A New Spin on an Old Idea

Unlike traditional fishing lights used to attract live bait, this small lamp illuminates an artificial squid-shaped lure designed to glow in the dark. The lure is hand-cast into depths of 30–45 fathoms (roughly 45–67.5 meters) and retrieved rapidly to mimic a squid’s movement, triggering big tuna to strike.

“We use artificial squid bait. In the dark, it glows like a glow stick. We shine a small lamp so it’s visible when we drop it into 45 meters. Then we reel it fast to attract the tuna,”
— Pak Salahudin

From Sulawesi to Kore: The Evolution of Local Fishing Innovation

This technique started with an encounter between Pak Kamil, a handline and purse seine tuna fisherman operating in WPP 713, and Pak Dirman, a local fish supplier in Kore. Around 2009–2010, while fishing around FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices) in northern waters, Pak Kamil found little success during the day. But at night, while moored to a FAD and taking a break, he had an idea—shine a boat light onto the sea and try night fishing.

To his surprise, casting small fish and squid baits under the light led to a sudden abundance of tuna. This marked the beginning of the night fishing technique, later adapted and evolved in Kore. The community added their twist—initially tying up to FADs (the “ngikat” method) and eventually developing the drifting night method, now known as the parasutan method, widely adopted by NTB’s tuna fishermen.

Today, using a 3×3 meter sea parachute, boats can slow their drift and stay within tuna migration paths all night—without GPS or high-tech equipment, just instinct, experience, and sea knowledge.

“We used to just scout with conch shells and binoculars. Now we have better tools simple, but effective,” said Wira.

Economic Efficiency Amidst Cost Pressures

Tuna prices have been volatile. While the price peaked at Rp37,000/kg in 2023, it dropped to around Rp29,000–30,000/kg in 2024. For small-scale fishers, this makes cost-cutting vital.

According to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), bait accounts for 20–30% of total handline fishing costs (DJPT KKP 2023). By switching to glowing artificial bait illuminated by a 15-watt lamp, Kore fishers drastically reduce dependence on costly live bait. The shift from high-energy 50–100 watt lamps to 15-watt LEDs also lowers battery and fuel usage.

In this context, efficiency is no longer optional. It’s survival.

Adapting to Climate Crisis and Resource Degradation

Beyond falling prices, declining tuna catches are a growing concern. Tuna seasons, which used to start in April, are now unpredictable.

“We used to catch tuna every day. Now? Sometimes just baby tuna or skipjack,” said one fisherman.

Given that Kore lies within WPP 713, local strategies matter. According to the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Marine Affairs and Fisheries Strategic Plan (Renstra DKP NTB 2024–2026), the government is focusing on:

• Strengthening surveillance to curb IUU (Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated) fishing;
• Enhancing fishers’ capacity through technical training and eco-friendly gear;
• Building partnerships with universities, NGOs, and the private sector for marine research and sustainable fisheries programs;
• Managing regional marine conservation zones to preserve spawning grounds and productivity.

Kore’s low-impact handline approach fits neatly into these goals.

Environmentally Friendly and Replicable Model

During interviews, Wira explained that when fishing baby tuna, live bait is still dominant. However, bad weather can make live squid (particularly Sthenoteuthis sp.) hard to catch. In such cases, artificial bait is used not only for tuna but also to lure live squid, which are then used as bait themselves.

But Not Without Challenges

While the Kore method holds strong promise as a low-impact, cost-efficient solution, its wider application will depend on careful adaptation.
Local fishing regulations, differences in sea currents and habitats, variations in tuna behavior, and environmental considerations—such as the impact of artificial lighting—must be assessed before replication. Pilot trials, regulatory compliance, and community involvement will be essential to ensure success without unintended consequences.

A Light That Signals Hope

Pak Salahudin hopes tuna prices return to Rp35,000–37,000/kg — enough for fishers to break even and earn a modest profit. Fishing trips are now shorter, starting at 5 PM and ending at 9 PM or sometimes dawn, and can be done solo.

Still, uncertainty in prices and catches could deter younger generations from entering the trade.
For now, though, Kore’s glowing lure stands as a beacon of local innovation born from necessity.

AP2HI will continue documenting and sharing field innovations like this to inspire sustainable practices across Indonesia’s fisheries.
Follow our journey and stories from the sea on Instagram: @ap2hi and @indonesiantuna