The impact of marine protected area taman wisata perairan timur pulau bintan (TWP-TB) on the fishermen’s catch in mapur village bintan regency

Socio Economic Fisheries Program, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Raja Ali Haji Maritime University, 29111, Tanjungpinang City, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: khairulhafsar@umrah.ac.id

Abstract

Bintan Island is designated as a marine protected area through the Decree of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia Number 18 of 2022 called Taman Wisata Perairan Timur Pulau Bintan (TWP-TB) which consists of three areas: Teluk Sebong, Gunung Kijang, Bintan Pesisir. Mapur Village is one of the villages in Bintan Pesisir Regency, which includes the area. The research aimed the impact of the establishment of marine protected area on the fishing grounds and catches of Mapur Village fishermen. The research was conducted in July 2024 in Mapur Village, Bintan Regency, Riau Islands Province. The descriptive and quantitative research method used questionnaires and FGD (Focus Group Discussion). Marine protected area has no impact on fishing catches. Most fishermen catch pelagic fish, and most fishing gear is handline. Fishermen do not change their fishing grounds even though there is a marine protected area because in general the fishing grounds are 1-17 miles from Mapur Village. Fishermen who make changes to the fishing area are the majority of fishermen who do not use fish aggregating devices (FADs).