POLICY FOR EMPOWERING FISHERMEN'S COMMUNITIES IN KOLONODALE, NORTH MOROWALI REGENCY

Abstract

This research aims to describe the implementation of fishing community empowerment policies in Kolonodale, North Morowali Regency, which still face various obstacles in efforts to improve the welfare and independence of fishermen. This research used a qualitative descriptive approach carried out in Kolonodale by determining informants through purposive sampling techniques. There were three main groups of research informants, namely the Head of the Regional Fisheries Service, the regional government, and the fishing community. Data was collected through observation, interviews and documentation, then analyzed through the stages of data collection, data condensation, data presentation and conclusion drawing. The research results show that the policy of empowering fishing communities has not been running optimally. In the Enabling aspect, the deliberation mechanism still tends to be dominated by fishermen who have greater capital so that the participation of small fishermen is not optimal. In the empowering aspect, the assistance provided still focuses on physical assistance and is often not in accordance with the specific needs of fishermen. Meanwhile, in the Maintaining aspect, protection of catch prices and fisheries trading systems are still weak so that small fishermen remain vulnerable to exploitation by middlemen. Apart from that, it was found that there were fishermen groups that were no longer active because some of their members had changed professions. This research contributes to understanding the implementation of fishing community empowerment policies at the local level and shows the importance of strengthening participation, accurate program targeting, and protecting the fishermen's economy in order to realize sustainable empowerment and improve the welfare of coastal communities.