Utilization and Management Implications of Bale-Bale Fishing Gear for Flying Fish Eggs (Exocoetidae)

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-942-1_19How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Bale-bale; Fisheries Management; Flying Fish; Sustainability

Abstract

Flying fish (Exocoetidae) represent an important marine resource in the Aru Islands, Eastern Indonesia, where their eggs have long been harvested using traditional bale-bale gear. However, recent increases in exploitation by andon fishers from Sulawesi have placed growing ecological strain on the resource and raised the risk of social tensions. This study investigates the dynamics of the flying fish egg fishery, evolving harvesting practices, and the management challenges associated with bale-bale use. Data were gathered through field observations, structured interviews (2021–2023), participatory mapping, and policy review. The results show that 80% of the fishers are migrants who operate between 2 and 200 nautical miles offshore, using gear that ranges from simple rafts to double-deck configurations. The overlap of fishing zones between local and andon fishers has intensified competition, leading to a significant reduction in egg catch. Furthermore, centralized fisheries governance has limited the effectiveness of local enforcement. Unregulated harvesting poses a serious threat to recruitment in flying fish populations, drawing parallels to challenges observed in lobster seed collection. To mitigate these risks, the study recommends standardizing gear, restricting bale-bale use to a maximum of 85 units per vessel, prohibiting double-deck rafts, enforcing stricter licensing and quota systems for migrant fleets, and enhancing coordination between different levels of government. A collaborative management framework rooted in scientific data is vital for safeguarding the long-term sustainability of the flying fish egg fishery in Maluku waters.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Friesland Tuapetel
AU  - Ronald D. Hukubun
AU  - Yolanda M. T. N. Apituley
AU  - Tran C. Thinh
AU  - Syahril A. Rauf
AU  - Adipati R. Gumelar
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/29
TI  - Utilization and Management Implications of Bale-Bale Fishing Gear for Flying Fish Eggs (Exocoetidae)
BT  - Proceedings of the 3rd International Seminar on Fish and Fisheries Sciences (ISFFS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 241
EP  - 257
SN  - 2468-5747
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-942-1_19
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-942-1_19
ID  - Tuapetel2025
ER  -