On the coast of Lembeh Island, Bitung City, North Sulawesi, women face significant economic challenges. The family income, which relies on the unstable catch of their husbands, often makes it difficult to meet daily needs. School allowance for children is often neglected, while housewives must come up with creative ways to meet household expenses.

Hope began to grow through the program “Marine Conservation Area Enhancement and Sustainable Fisheries Management in North Sulawesi,” run by Manengkel Solidaritas, a partner of the Wallacea II Partnership Program. The great potential of coastal women was realized through various training programs and collaborations with various parties. These women were taught how to process tuna catches into economically valuable products, such as shredded fish and sambal (chili paste), which were connected with companies like Pertamina. Pertamina’s support, in the form of fishing product processing equipment, further fueled their enthusiasm.

The active involvement of coastal women in this project became the key to improving the economic well-being of their families. The processed products were marketed collectively, both at the Bitung City Gallery, the Lembeh Strait Festival, and on social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok. From the sale of these products, housewives on Lembeh Island can now give their children daily pocket money, meet their family needs, and even save for the future.

In a single production cycle, they can process up to 20 kilograms of fresh tuna, with products that can last up to six months. Each month, they market up to 80 packages of products at the Bitung City Gallery. This method has improved the welfare of families while educating the community about the importance of marine conservation.

On the other hand, the Indonesian Pole and Line and Handline Fisheries Association (AP2HI) pays special attention to small-scale tuna fishermen on Lembeh Island. These fishermen previously faced a major problem: difficulty accessing markets and a lack of knowledge on how to handle tuna to maintain its quality.

To address this issue, AP2HI connected the fishermen with several tuna-buying companies. This collaboration made it easier for fishermen to sell their catch to larger, more profitable markets. AP2HI also educated fishermen about sustainable tuna fishing techniques, responsible marine resource management, and the use of coordinate recording devices.

With the implementation of Good Handling Practices (GHP) training, the fishermen now have a Fish Handling Competency Certificate (SKPI), which ensures the quality of their catch. They were also taught to maintain the fish storage temperature below -5 degrees Celsius, ensuring the fish remains fresh when sold. These steps not only improved the quality of the fish but also boosted its selling price. The programs implemented on Lembeh Island have had a significant impact, not only on increasing the income of fishermen and coastal women but also on raising public awareness about the importance of preserving the marine environment. With good collaboration between various parties, including tuna-buying companies, a brighter future for the families of fishermen on Lembeh Island is now in sight.