Sunardi, Eko Sulkhany Yulianto, Mihrobi Khulwatu Rihmi, Citra Satrya Utama Dewi, Fuad, Muammar Kadhafi
In East Java, small-scale purse seine fisheries play a critical role in preserving food security, local economies, and coastal cultural systems; however, there are challenges of sustainability due to the dual pressures of ecological responsibility and risks of operational safety. This study evaluated purse seine operations at Tambakrejo Fishing Port, a key landing site in East Java, by integrating Food and Agriculture Organization Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (FAO-CCRF) sustainability indicators with a Frequency–Severity Index (FI–SI) occupational risk assessment. The CCRF indicators were anchored in Articles 6–8 (general principles, fisheries management, and fishing operations) to examine ecological performance and exposure to hazards across distinct operational phases. Data were collected through direct observation, structured fisher interviews, port documentation, and catch monitoring (9 vessels over 15 sampling days). FI–SI scores were assigned by a standardized rubric triangulated with evidence from interviews and port records. Results indicated a highly selective catch composition with minimal bycatch (~0.4%), though species-specific vulnerabilities persisted due to sub-length at first maturity (Lm) retention, particularly in Euthynnus affinis. Risk evaluation showed that the highest hazard exposure occurred during labor-intensive and time-pressure phases such as setting, pursing, and hauling, driven by rope handling, wet-deck dynamics, and repetitive manual tasks. The proposed dual-matrix approach differed from certification-oriented indicator sets (e.g., MSC-type schemes), Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) scorecards, and standalone occupational health and safety matrices by linking phase-level ecological signals with task-level safety risk to identify high-risk–low-compliance nodes and prioritise feasible controls. The integration of sustainability and risk indicators suggests that compliant and selective practices could reduce both ecological pressure and hazard exposure, hence upholding the concept that sustainability and safety are mutually reinforcing outcomes. The framework offers practical guidance for adaptive co-management by emphasizing low-cost improvements, training, and procedural discipline, while acknowledging that cross-sectional sampling, seasonal variability of sea states, and local implementation capacity could influence risk profiles and its feasibility. © 2026 by the author(s).
Department of Marine and Fisheries Resources Utilization, Fisheries and Marine Science Faculty, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Indonesia Marine Fisheries Research Group, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kunsan National University, Gunsan, 54150, South Korea
