MAKASSAR, Indonesia, 30 August 2026/AMBioC/–Hasanuddin University strengthened its engagement with coastal communities through a fisheries catch logbook training conducted in Barru Regency on 6 Juni – September 2025. Implemented under the Community Partnership Program (PPMU-PK-M), the activity aimed to improve fisheries data literacy and encourage sustainable fishing practices among small-scale fishers. The program was implemented by a Hasanuddin University community engagement team involving members of the Aquatic Management and Biodiversity Conservation Research Group (TRG AMBioC).
The program was carried out in collaboration with the Lumba-Lumba Fisher Group in Sumpang Binangae, Barru District. More than 25 participants, including fishers, women from fishing households, and university students, took part in the activity. Their participation created an inclusive learning environment that brought together fishers’ practical knowledge and university-based approaches to fisheries data collection.
During the training, participants learned how to systematically record essential fishing information, including fishing locations, fishing gear, species caught, and daily catch volumes. The facilitators provided step-by-step guidance and practical exercises using a simple catch logbook designed to be easily applied by small-scale fishers.
Although fishers generally possess extensive knowledge of fishing seasons, fishing grounds, and changes in catch, much of this information remains undocumented. Recording it in a structured logbook can transform local knowledge into useful data for planning fishing activities, monitoring changes in fishery resources, and supporting more informed fisheries management.
The participatory discussions also provided an opportunity for fishers to share challenges encountered at sea, particularly seasonal uncertainty and fluctuations in catch. These discussions demonstrated that a catch logbook is not merely an administrative tool, but can also help fishing communities understand changes in their fisheries over time.
The activity and its outputs were subsequently presented at a public exhibition held at the official residence of the Regent of Barru. The exhibition featured documentation of the training, examples of completed catch logbooks, and information on their contribution to sustainable fisheries management. The Rector of Hasanuddin University visited the exhibition and discussed the initiative with participants and the organizing team, reflecting the university’s commitment to collaboration with local government and coastal communities.
This initiative contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). More broadly, it demonstrates how a simple, community-based data collection tool can connect local fishing knowledge with scientific approaches and support sustainable coastal livelihoods in Barru Regency.
