lautnusantara.com_Efforts by Bonetambu Fishers to Safeguard Octopus Fishing Grounds

• The inaugural opening of the Bonetambu octopus open–close system involved around 40 fishers moving together, marking an initial transition toward collective fisheries management based on local coastal community agreements on a small island.

• Bonetambu Island has a long history as a fishing island. The surrounding coral reefs have long served as the main source of food and income for residents. However, excessive pressure and environmentally unfriendly fishing practices have previously degraded marine ecosystems in several areas. The open–close system is therefore seen as one way to reorganize fishing grounds. The Bonetambu open–close agreement involves multiple stakeholders.

• The closure of 71.44 hectares for three months resulted in larger-sized octopus, with an initial catch of 16.94 kilograms, while also highlighting weather-related challenges and the need for long-term evaluation based on local data.

• The open–close agreement strengthens the protection of fishing grounds, community-based surveillance, plans for gradual expansion, and the democratization of marine resource management rights for fishers of Bonetambu Island in the Spermonde Archipelago, Makassar, Sulawesi.

Learning the Cycle and Efforts to Protect the Sea

Rain had been falling since morning on Bonetambu Island, a small island in the Spermonde Archipelago, Makassar City, South Sulawesi. The waves were not too high, but the wind carried drizzle strong enough to gently rock wooden boats along the shoreline.

Around 40 fishers continued preparing by checking their diving gear, ropes, and baskets for carrying their catch. In early December, this moment marked something new for Bonetambu fishers: the first-ever opening of an octopus open–close fishing area.

An area that had been closed for the previous three months was now reopened collectively. This was the first time Bonetambu fishers officially and collectively implemented an octopus open–close system.

Assistance was provided by the Indonesian Marine Conservation Foundation (Yayasan Konservasi Laut/YKL Indonesia), with support from Burung Indonesia through the Community-Based Octopus Economic Strengthening and Conservation Program (Proteksi Gama).

Since early morning, fishers gathered at a point they had mutually agreed upon. There was no special signal—only a shared understanding that the previously closed area was now open for entry.

Several fishers immediately entered the water, diving around the shallow coral reefs that serve as octopus habitat.

Bonetambu Island is one of the most densely populated islands in Spermonde. Its land area is limited, with tightly packed settlements, and most residents depend on the sea for their livelihoods.

Small-scale capture fisheries are the primary source of income, including octopus fishing, reef fish, and other economically valuable marine organisms.

In recent years, pressure on marine resources has increased due to rising economic needs and the presence of fishers from outside the island.

Against this backdrop, the community agreed to initiate an open–close system.

A series of meetings were held on the island, involving fishers, community leaders, and facilitators. These meetings discussed sustainable fisheries management, the octopus life cycle, coral reef conditions, and experiences from other islands in Spermonde that had earlier implemented similar systems.

Bonetambu fishers prepare to go to sea to catch octopus, marking the initial process of opening an area that had been closed for three months for octopus fishing. Photo: Wahyu Chandra/Mongabay Indonesia.

Learning the Cycle and Efforts to Protect the Sea

Muhammad Fauzi Rafiq, Coordinator for Empowerment and Advocacy at YKL Indonesia, explained that the process did not happen instantly.

“The open–close system for octopus fishing on Bonetambu Island is a first stage. It emerged from shared learning, especially about the importance of working collectively,” he said.

Bonetambu fishers learned about the octopus life cycle, fishing seasons, and the relationship between coral reef health and octopus availability.

They also conducted learning visits to Langkai Island and Lanjukang Island, two islands in Spermonde that had earlier implemented the open–close system.

“Fishers directly saw how catches could increase after an area was temporarily closed,” Fauzi said.

From there, awareness emerged to try a similar approach in Bonetambu.

In the initial stage, the closed area covered 71.44 hectares. For three months, fishers agreed not to catch octopus in that area. The closure was carried out collectively with monitoring by island residents. After the closure period ended, the area was reopened together.

During the opening, weather conditions posed a challenge. Rain and wind limited the fishers’ ability to explore the entire reopened area.

“Unfavorable weather conditions limited fishers from exploring the whole area,” Fauzi said.

Within about half an hour, one fisher managed to catch an octopus weighing 3.36 kilograms—considered large for waters around Bonetambu.

Overall, the total catch that day reached 16.94 kilograms. In addition to octopus, some fishers also caught lobsters and cuttlefish.

According to Fauzi, these results serve as an initial indicator of the impact of the temporary closure, although they cannot yet be concluded as a long-term trend.

Daeng Gassing, a community leader on Bonetambu Island, said the open–close system is not only about catches.

“It’s also about protecting our waters,” he said.

He explained that Bonetambu fishers are committed to protecting the sea from illegal fishing practices, especially fish bombing.

“Monitoring is carried out every night to ensure no one enters the open–close area,” Gassing said.

Community-based surveillance is key, given the limited formal enforcement capacity on small islands.

He recalled the destructive impacts of fish bombing that had previously occurred in the Spermonde region.

“First, it destroys coral reefs; second, fish die; third, residents’ houses are damaged by the vibrations,” he said.

Therefore, the prohibition of destructive practices is an inseparable part of the open–close agreement.

Bonetambu Island has a long history as a fishing island. The surrounding coral reefs have been the main source of food and income for residents. However, excessive pressure and environmentally unfriendly fishing practices have at times degraded marine ecosystems in several areas.

The open–close system is thus viewed as one way to reorganize fishing grounds. The Bonetambu open–close agreement involves various parties.

In addition to fishers and community leaders, support has come from government agencies, academics, and civil society organizations.

This process opens space for the democratization of marine resource management rights at the local level, where decisions do not come from outside but are jointly agreed upon by island residents.

Gassing also outlined plans to expand the closed fishing zones. Currently, the closed area is located in the island’s southwestern waters.

In the future, expansion will be carried out gradually. The second stage will include the western foreshore area, followed by the northwestern area.

“We are grateful because this effort is starting to show progress,” Gassing said. “Even though it has only been running for about three months.”

These protection efforts have also begun to receive institutional support. Gassing mentioned that communication has already taken place with various parties, including relevant provincial agencies. This support is expected to strengthen the community’s position in safeguarding their marine territories.

Bonetambu Island is not the only island in Spermonde attempting to reorganize fishing grounds.

“For fishers on this island, the inaugural opening of the open–close system is an important moment, marking a shift from individual fishing practices toward collective management,” Fauzi said.

Bonetambu Island lies at the heart of the Spermonde Archipelago, a chain of coral islands stretching across the waters of the Makassar Strait.

This region is known as one of the centers of marine biodiversity in South Sulawesi, yet it is highly vulnerable to pressure from human activities.

High population density, limited land area, and heavy dependence on marine resources make small islands like Bonetambu extremely sensitive to ecosystem degradation.

According to Nirwan Dessibali, Director of YKL Indonesia, over the past few decades Bonetambu fishers have faced tangible changes.

Catches are no longer as easily obtained as in the past. Some fishers must now travel farther offshore or dive longer to obtain the same yields.

“This situation is exacerbated by the entry of fishers from outside the island who exploit waters around Bonetambu without social ties to the local community.”

Through the facilitation process by YKL Indonesia and its partners, discussions on the open–close system have addressed not only the technical aspects of octopus fishing, but also management rights and shared responsibilities.

Fishers mapped their fishing grounds, identified coral reef areas that remain healthy, and discussed boundaries that require protection.

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