Lessons from Indonesiaʹs 1980 trawler ban

In 1980 the Indonesian government imposed a ban on trawling along the Malacca Straits and off the north coast of Java, the nationʹs two most important fishing grounds. The ban on trawling was extended nation-wide in 1981, effectively eliminating a highly productive type of fishing gear and the most important source of shrimp for the lucrative international market. The political nature of this decision and factors contributing to what has proven to be effective enforcement are discussed. Data on the Malacca Straits and the north coast of Java are used to assess the consequences of the trawler ban on the demersal fisheries. Prior to the trawler ban, little or no growth occurred in numbers of fishers, numbers of small-scale demersal gear, or landings by small-scale demersal gear. After 1980, however, small-scale demersal fisheries experienced dramatic growth, generating significant new employment opportunities but raising anew serious resource management problems.