The Impact of Increase in Fuel Prices on Fishing Business

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 44 views

The Impact of Increase in Fuel Prices (Solar) on Fishing Business with Trawl Rings: A Case Study in Kel. Bagan Deli Kec. Medan Belawan, Medan City

Introduction

The fishing industry is one of the most crucial sectors in the economy of many countries, including Indonesia. The industry provides employment opportunities for millions of people and contributes significantly to the country's GDP. However, the fishing industry is facing numerous challenges, including the increase in fuel prices. The rise in fuel prices has a direct impact on the fishing business, especially for fishermen who rely on trawlers. This study aims to analyze the impact of rising fuel prices on fishing business with descriptive methods and different tests.

The Impact of Increase in Fuel Prices on Fishing Business

The increase in fuel prices has a significant impact on the fishing business. The study found that the number of trawlers had increased significantly after the increase in fuel prices. In 2006, the number of ring trawls increased from 188 units to 231 units, or increased by 43 units. This increase indicates that fishermen are trying to increase the intensity of fishing as an effort to cover up the increase in operational costs due to rising fuel prices.

However, the increase in the number of trawlers is not accompanied by an increase in catches. The duration of fishermen at sea per trip has increased from 5.96 days to 7,277 days. Frequency of sea per month actually decreased from 4.6-5 trips to 3.77-4 trips. This shows that fishermen are forced to extend the duration of sea to get relatively the same catch, but with fewer food frequencies.

Catch per month also decreased significantly from 15,667.50 kg to 13,536.67 kg. This decline occurred even though fishermen extend the duration of sea. The main factor that causes a decrease in catches is the possibility of excessive fishing and damage to the marine ecosystem due to uncontrolled fishing activities.

The Impact of Increase in Fuel Prices on Fishermen's Income

Although the catch decreases, fishermen's income per month does not show significant differences. Fishermen's revenue before the fuel price increase reached Rp 26,068,492.59 per month, while after the increase in fuel prices to Rp 22,572,787.04 per month. This decline in income can be associated with the selling price factor of fish which tends to be stagnant, so it is unable to cover up the increase in operational costs.

The Problems Faced by Fishermen

The increase in fuel prices has caused various problems for fishermen, including:

*** Lack of capital: ** Increase in operational costs per trip causes fishermen to have difficulty in meeting the capital needs to go to sea. *** Decreased selling price: ** Catch fish are sometimes difficult to sell at a favorable price, so that it has an impact on fishermen's income. *** Criminal acts: ** Fishermen also face threats from pirates or unknown people (OTK) who often commit criminal acts at sea.

Efforts Made by Fishermen to Survive

Responding to this problem, fishermen have made various efforts to survive, such as:

*** Loans: ** Borrowing capital from relatives, moneylenders, cooperatives, banks, and financial institutions. *** Savings of BBM: ** Using fuel saving tools such as EGB (Electronic Gas Booster) and installing phone. *** Cheap Sales: ** Selling catches at low prices for fish species that are not sold. *** Criminal Reporting: ** Reporting criminal acts to the authorities.

Conclusion

The increase in fuel prices has a significant impact on fishing businesses with trawlers in Bagan Deli Village, Medan Belawan District, Medan City. The increase in the number of ring trawls is not matched by an increase in catches, and fishermen's income tends to decrease. This problem needs serious attention from the government and related stakeholders, so that the sustainability of fishing businesses can be maintained and the welfare of fishermen can be improved.

Recommendations

Solutions that need to be done include:

*** Development of Fisheries Technology: ** Helps fishermen to adopt a more efficient and environmentally friendly fisheries technology. *** Improvement of infrastructure: ** Improve port and fish market infrastructure to facilitate fishermen access and increase the competitiveness of fishery products. *** Increased supervision: ** Tightening supervision at sea to prevent illegal fishing and criminal acts. *** Assistance Program: ** Providing assistance programs for fishermen affected by fuel price increases, such as fuel subsidies, fishing gear assistance, and training.

With the attention and joint effort, it is expected that the negative impact of the increase in fuel prices on fishing businesses can be overcome and the welfare of fishermen can be improved.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations. Firstly, the study only focuses on the impact of fuel price increase on fishing business with trawlers in Bagan Deli Village, Medan Belawan District, Medan City. Secondly, the study only uses descriptive methods and different tests to analyze the impact of fuel price increase on fishing business. Therefore, the study may not be generalizable to other areas or fishing businesses.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on the impact of fuel price increase on other fishing businesses, such as those using small-scale fishing gear. Additionally, future research should use more advanced methods, such as econometric analysis, to analyze the impact of fuel price increase on fishing business.

References

[List of references cited in the study]

Appendix

[Appendix containing additional data and information]

Note: The article is written in a formal tone and is approximately 1500 words in length. The content is in markdown form, with headings and subheadings used to organize the article. The article includes a conclusion and recommendations, as well as limitations and future research directions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Impact of Increase in Fuel Prices on Fishing Business with Trawl Rings

Q: What is the impact of increase in fuel prices on fishing business with trawlers?

A: The increase in fuel prices has a significant impact on fishing business with trawlers. The number of trawlers has increased, but the catch per month has decreased. Fishermen's income per month also tends to decrease due to the increase in operational costs.

Q: Why do fishermen increase the number of trawlers despite the decrease in catch?

A: Fishermen increase the number of trawlers as an effort to cover up the increase in operational costs due to rising fuel prices. They try to increase the intensity of fishing to get relatively the same catch, but with fewer food frequencies.

Q: What are the problems faced by fishermen due to the increase in fuel prices?

A: Fishermen face several problems, including lack of capital, decreased selling price, and criminal acts. They have difficulty in meeting the capital needs to go to sea, and the selling price of fish tends to be stagnant, affecting their income.

Q: What efforts have fishermen made to survive the impact of increase in fuel prices?

A: Fishermen have made various efforts to survive, such as borrowing capital from relatives, moneylenders, cooperatives, banks, and financial institutions. They also use fuel saving tools, sell catches at low prices, and report criminal acts to the authorities.

Q: What are the recommendations to overcome the negative impact of increase in fuel prices on fishing business?

A: The recommendations include developing fisheries technology, improving infrastructure, increasing supervision, and providing assistance programs for fishermen affected by fuel price increases.

Q: Why is it important to develop fisheries technology?

A: Developing fisheries technology can help fishermen adopt a more efficient and environmentally friendly fisheries technology, which can reduce the impact of fuel price increase on fishing business.

Q: What is the role of government and related stakeholders in overcoming the negative impact of increase in fuel prices on fishing business?

A: The government and related stakeholders have a crucial role in providing assistance programs for fishermen affected by fuel price increases, improving infrastructure, and increasing supervision to prevent illegal fishing and criminal acts.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations, including the focus on fishing business with trawlers in Bagan Deli Village, Medan Belawan District, Medan City, and the use of descriptive methods and different tests to analyze the impact of fuel price increase on fishing business.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research should focus on the impact of fuel price increase on other fishing businesses, such as those using small-scale fishing gear, and use more advanced methods, such as econometric analysis, to analyze the impact of fuel price increase on fishing business.

Q: What are the implications of this study for policymakers and stakeholders?

A: This study has implications for policymakers and stakeholders to develop policies and programs that can help fishermen overcome the negative impact of increase in fuel prices on fishing business. It also highlights the need for more research on the impact of fuel price increase on fishing business.

Q: What are the potential solutions to overcome the negative impact of increase in fuel prices on fishing business?

A: Potential solutions include developing fisheries technology, improving infrastructure, increasing supervision, and providing assistance programs for fishermen affected by fuel price increases.