Fishers in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia are facing challenges as rough seas prevent them from going out to fish. Local monitoring and interviews indicate that this situation is worsening with the development of El Niño. Yustinus Pesireron, a fisherman from Kaibobo village on Seram island, mentioned that he has not been able to fish for almost a month, which he noted is the longest break he has experienced in his thirty years at sea. In the village, which has about 1,800 residents, fishing is the main source of income. Pesireron explained that the money he earns from his catches supports his household expenses and his children’s schooling.
Monitoring by partners of the UK-based organization Blue Ventures shows a decline in fish catches. Data from an average fishing trip in coastal waters near Ambon and Seram islands recorded only 3.6 kilograms (7.9 pounds) of fish caught between April and July 2026. This is a decrease from 8.3 kg (18.3 lb) in 2025 and 10.6 kg (23.4 lb) in 2024. The organization noted that the data does not indicate a reduction in fish populations. Instead, fishers reported that increasing wave heights and rough conditions are limiting their fishing time and travel distances. Pesireron mentioned that sometimes they go out to fish despite the bad weather, but often the catch only covers the cost of fuel and food. This article was originally published on Mongabay.
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Source: Mongabay Animals, by Rebecca Kessler