The field activity aimed to obtain updated information on the current conditions, challenges, and capacity-building needs of fisheries stakeholders around Lake Ranau. The findings will provide an important basis for developing appropriate capacity-building approaches and strengthening the application of fisheries management tools, particularly Community-based Fisheries Management (CBFM), co-management, and the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM).
Lake Ranau is one of the major inland water bodies in Sumatra and is located along the border between Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Selatan Regency, South Sumatra Province, and West Lampung Regency, Lampung Province. The lake supports a wide range of community livelihoods, including capture fisheries, aquaculture, fish processing and marketing, agriculture-related activities, and tourism. At the same time, its fisheries resources are subject to various environmental and resource-use pressures, highlighting the need for participatory and ecosystem-based approaches to support sustainable fisheries management.
Courtesy Meeting with the Fisheries Service of OKU Selatan Regency
On 12 August 2026, the SEAFDEC/IFRDMD team began the activity with a courtesy meeting with the Fisheries Service of OKU Selatan Regency. The team was welcomed by Mr. Hb Yusman Nashir, Secretary of the Fisheries Service of OKU Selatan Regency.
During the meeting, SEAFDEC/IFRDMD presented the objectives and planned activities of the field assessment and capacity-building initiative. The discussion also revisited the results of the EAFM assessments conducted in 2022 and 2024, including their key findings and recommendations for improving fisheries management in Lake Ranau.
Other topics presented during the meeting included the current situation and roles of fisheries extension officers and their activities, the participation and contribution of women in fisheries, and an introduction to SPEECTRA, one of SEAFDEC/IFRDMD’s initiatives related to strengthening sustainable fisheries and community livelihoods.
The meeting provided an opportunity for SEAFDEC/IFRDMD and the local government to exchange views on various fisheries management challenges and to identify areas requiring further technical support and capacity development to promote more effective and inclusive fisheries management in the Lake Ranau area.
Following the meeting, the team visited a fish processing and marketing group in Muaradua. Direct interviews were conducted with group members who have received guidance and support from fisheries extension officers in OKU Selatan Regency. The discussions provided information on processing activities, group development, marketing practices, livelihood opportunities, and various challenges faced by women and other community members involved in fisheries post-harvest activities.
Listening Directly to Fisheries Stakeholders
On 13 August 2026, the field assessment continued through interviews using structured questionnaires with fisheries stakeholders representing various activities within the fisheries sector.
A total of 20 capture fisheries stakeholders, who are members of local capture fisheries groups, participated in structured interviews conducted at the Pilla Fish Seed Center (Balai Benih Ikan/BBI). The interviews collected information on fishing activities, resource conditions, fisheries management practices, institutional arrangements, participation in fisheries groups, livelihood conditions, and the capacity-building needs of fisheries stakeholders for future activities.
The team then visited Kota Batu Village, Warkuk Ranau Selatan Subdistrict, one of the fisheries communities located around Lake Ranau. Structured interviews were conducted with 25 members of fish farming groups and fish processing and marketing groups.
In addition to the interviews, the SEAFDEC/IFRDMD team also visited local fish farming groups to directly observe their activities. These interactions provided a broader understanding of how capture fisheries, aquaculture, fish processing, marketing, fisheries extension services, and community organizations contribute to the livelihoods of communities around Lake Ranau.
Direct engagement with fishers, fish farmers, fish processors, and other fisheries stakeholders is an important part of ensuring that their experiences, needs, and perspectives are taken into consideration in the development of subsequent capacity-building activities.
From Field Information to Targeted Capacity Building
The information collected during the two-day field activity will be analyzed to identify the priority needs, management challenges, and capacity gaps of fisheries stakeholders in the Lake Ranau area of OKU Selatan Regency.
Rather than applying the same approach to all groups, the assessment results are expected to support the development of capacity-building activities that are genuinely responsive to the conditions and needs of local communities. Particular attention will be given to opportunities to strengthen stakeholder participation, fisheries group institutions, the role of fisheries extension officers, the inclusive participation of women, livelihood improvement, and collaboration between fisheries communities and government agencies.
This assessment will also complement the findings and recommendations of the 2024 EAFM assessment, thereby supporting a continuous process from assessing fisheries conditions to implementing practical management measures and capacity-building activities.
The field survey was led by the Chief of SEAFDEC/IFRDMD, Dr. Maulana Firdaus, with active support from the Fisheries Service of OKU Selatan Regency and fisheries extension officers under the Research Institute for Inland Fisheries Extension, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (RIIFE-MMAF) assigned to the area.
Through the Japan Trust Fund VII project, SEAFDEC/IFRDMD continues to promote approaches that place fisheries communities at the center of fisheries management while strengthening collaboration among fishers and other fisheries stakeholders, local government agencies, fisheries extension officers, and other relevant stakeholders. The activities in Lake Ranau represent an important step toward developing fisheries management that is more participatory, ecosystem-based, and responsive to local needs, while contributing to improved community livelihoods and the sustainable utilization of inland fisheries resources.