The Fisheries and Fisherfolk of Nias Island, Indonesia-BOBP/WP/78

This paper is a background document for the planning and programming of a Fishing Technology subproject for support by the Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP). It has been prepared in two parts. Part I is a briefand factual presentation of data and information on the main features of the small-scale marine fisheries of Nias Island, Indonesia, which is the result of a preliminary field survey undertaken in June and October 1988 by 0. Pajot, Senior Fishing Technologist, BOBP. It is based on observati ons and discussions during field visits to the main fishing villages and on information and data provided by the District Fisheries Service of Gunung Sitoli in Nias Island. In the absence of reliable statistics, some of the data given are estimates and should, therefore, be regarded as orders of magnitudes and trends. Part II presents data and information on the socio-economic situation of the fisherfolk communities of Nias Island. It is the result of a socio-economic appraisal undertaken by P hilip Townsley, a BOBP socio-economist, during the period October 1989 to January 1990 in eleven villages in seven subdistricts of Nias Island. The preparation of this paper is an activity of the BOBP for the development of fisherfolk communities and has been undertaken jointly with the Provincial Fisheries Service of North Sumatera Province.