Seasons, Currents, and Fortunes: An Ethnography of Shark Fishers on the Kasuari Coast

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-545-4_40How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Maritime Ethnography; Local Ecological Knowledge; Shark Fishermen; Coastal Adaptation; Kasuari

Abstract

This study reveals the ecological knowledge systems and economic practices of shark fishermen in Kasuari Village, a coastal area in Central Sulawesi. Using a maritime ethnographic approach, this research examines how fishermen interpret seasons, ocean currents, wind patterns, and natural signs—such as the changing color of ketapang leaves and the direction of waves—to determine the timing and location of shark fishing. These practices demonstrate not only household economic strategies but also long-standing forms of ecological adaptation and cultural transmission passed down through generations. Amid increasing pressures from conservation policies, declining shark populations, and fluctuating seafood prices, Kasuari fishermen continue to maintain a balance between preserving tradition and meeting economic needs. The findings indicate that fishing activities encompass interconnected ecological, social, economic, and cultural dimensions, making the sea not merely a site of production but also a space of knowledge, identity, spirituality, and community survival. This study highlights the importance of recognizing local ecological knowledge within policy frameworks to ensure the sustainability of marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.

Copyright

© 2026 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  - Mohamad Fadil
AU  - Yulianti Bakari
AU  - Hendra
AU  - Muh Zainuddin Badollahi
AU  - Muh Nasrum
AU  - Trifandi S. Katung
AU  - Hilda Anjarsari
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/03/13
TI  - Seasons, Currents, and Fortunes: An Ethnography of Shark Fishers on the Kasuari Coast
BT  - Proceedings of the World Conference on Governance and Social Sciences 2025 (WCGSS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 599
EP  - 611
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-545-4_40
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-545-4_40
ID  - Fadil2026
ER  -