POLICY ANALYSIS AND EMPOWERMENT STRATEGY BASED ON DIGITAL COOPERATIVES FOR SMALL-SCALE FISHERS

Abstract

Small-scale fishers in Indonesia continue to face structural poverty associated with unequal access to markets, financing, information, technology, and economic institutions. The increase in national capture fisheries production has not always been accompanied by improved fisher welfare, as economic benefits within the fisheries value chain remain unevenly distributed. This study aims to identify the structural factors underlying the disempowerment of small-scale fishers, evaluate the limitations of fishers’ economic institutions, and formulate an empowerment strategy through digital cooperatives. The study employs a descriptive qualitative approach using literature review and secondary data analysis. Data were obtained from documents published by Statistics Indonesia, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, and relevant scientific literature. The analysis was conducted through issue identification, secondary data synthesis, thematic triangulation, and strategy formulation. The findings show that the disempowerment of small-scale fishers is shaped by their weak bargaining position in the value chain, dependence on market intermediaries and informal financing, and the suboptimal functioning of fishers’ cooperatives. Digital cooperatives can serve as an empowerment strategy by strengthening transaction recording, institutional transparency, access to price information, marketing of fish catches, and linkages with formal financial institutions. However, their success requires digital literacy, sound cooperative governance, member trust, digital infrastructure, continuous facilitation, and consistent policy support