RJOAS May 2025
by Salsabila Khansa Bara, Hidayat Achmad Syamsu, Lilimantik Emmy (University of Lambung Mangkurat, South Kalimantan, Indonesia)
The success of implementing this policy is highly dependent on how the policy is received and perceived by the main actors, namely climbing perch farmers. Farmers' perceptions of government policies will greatly influence attitudes, participation, and sustainability of cultivation practices. The research aims to identify facilities and infrastructure in the area that has been designated as the Climbing perch Cultivation Village Area and to analyze the perceptions of climbing perch farmers in Karang Intan Village regarding the Decree of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Number 111 of 2023.. The research location was selected by Purposive Sampling in Karang Intan Village, Karang Intan District, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan Province because Banjar Regency is a local climbing perch cultivation area in accordance with the Decree of the Regent of Banjar Regency and Ministerial Regulation Number 111 of 2023. Analysis of research data is descriptive and on a Likert scale. The Climbing perch Farming Village area in Karang Intan Village has an actual cultivation area of 14.77 hectares and a potential area of 300-340 hectares with supporting facilities and infrastructure even though the road access is slightly damaged, and is supported by 32 human resources, some of whom have implemented Good Fish Seeding Methods; The perception of farmers towards the Aquaculture Village program is classified as moderate, where farmers agree with the existence of the program but have not felt any significant benefits or impacts since its implementation.
Fisheries are one of the important sectors in supporting national food security, providing employment, and improving the community's economy, especially in coastal areas and inland waters. Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan Province, has enormous potential for fishery resources, including public waters and cultivation areas that support the development of the aquaculture sector. Geographical advantages and the availability of natural resources make this area one of the strategic areas in the development of freshwater fisheries commodities.
Aquaculture has a central role in increasing sustainable fisheries production, reducing pressure on wild fish resources, and contributing to community income. The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has launched the Aquaculture Village program as one of the strategies for developing the fisheries sector. This program aims to increase productivity, empower local communities, and create an integrated cultivation system from upstream to downstream (Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, 2021).
Legal basis, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries issued Regulation of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Number 47 of 2021 concerning Aquaculture Villages. This regulation is designed to strengthen inclusive management of the marine and fisheries sector, improve product quality, and expand market access through the development of local wisdom-based fishing villages. This fishing village includes freshwater, brackish water, and marine cultivation which is managed in an integrated manner with the aim of improving the welfare of farmers and maintaining the sustainability of fishery resources (Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, 2021).
A local commodity that has high economic value and great potential for development is the climbing perch (Anabas testudineus). In South Kalimantan, climbing perch is known as the "sultan fish" because of its high selling price and stable market demand, which even tends to increase. Agusliani et al. (2019), the price of climbing perch reaches IDR 80,000/kg for grade A, which reflects its significant commercial value. The supply of this fish is still highly dependent on natural catches which tend to decline due to environmental degradation and excessive exploitation. In response to this situation, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries issued Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 111 of 2023, which designated Banjar Regency as the location of the Climbing perch Cultivation Fishery Village. This decree aims to develop superior local commodities, increase sustainable cultivation production, and encourage local community participation in efforts to conserve and manage climbing perch. Through this policy, it is hoped that dependence on natural catches can be reduced and farmers can obtain greater economic benefits through a structured and efficient cultivation system (Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, 2023). The success of implementing this policy is highly dependent on how the policy is received and perceived by the main actors, namely climbing perch farmers. Farmers' perceptions of government policies will greatly influence attitudes, participation, and sustainability of cultivation practices. Factors such as understanding the contents of the policy, the effectiveness of government communication, support for facilities and infrastructure, and clarity of economic benefits are important variables that shape these perceptions. Therefore, it is important to examine the perceptions of farmers in Karang Intan Village towards the Decree of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Number 111 of 2023 as an initial step in evaluating the effectiveness of this policy at the field level. The research aims to identify facilities and infrastructure in the area that has been designated as the Climbing perch Cultivation Village Area and to analyze the perceptions of climbing perch farmers in Karang Intan Village regarding the Decree of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Number 111 of 2023.
The research location was selected by Purposive Sampling in Karang Intan Village, Karang Intan District, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan Province because Banjar Regency is a local climbing perch cultivation area in accordance with the Decree of the Regent of Banjar Regency and Ministerial Regulation Number 111 of 2023.
Analysis used for aquaculture facilities and infrastructure in the Papuyu village area. Components identified and indicators to be observed in the Papuyu village area that have been adjusted based on PERMEN-KP Number 55 of 2020.
The perception of climbing perch farmers in Karang Intan Village towards the Decree of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Number 111 of 2023 used Likert scale data analysis as a measurement method, with a calculation plan, namely determining the scale of answers with the values of each scale, determining the measurement scale and percentage of answers.
The number of scales given is 4, namely for each answer scale a score of Very Good - 4, Good - 3, Quite Good - 2, Not Good - 1 is given.
Perception is divided into three criteria, namely low criteria, medium criteria and high criteria (Agusliani et al, 2019). In this study, the measuring tool used to determine the perception of climbing perch farmers towards the Regulation of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 111 of 2024 was an interview using a questionnaire. The statement is the result of the elaboration of 3 perception indicators according to Bimo Walgito, including: acceptance of stimuli or objects from outside the individual, understanding and assessment (Kurniawan et al., 2021).
In general, facilities and infrastructure are the main supporting elements in supporting the success of a public service process. Without the presence of both, the activities carried out will not be able to achieve the expected results according to planning. Information regarding the facilities and infrastructure available in the Climbing perch Cultivation Village Area in Karang Intan Village can be seen in the following table.
Climbing perch Cultivation Fishery Village is a fisheries development model that integrates various components of facilities and infrastructure to increase the productivity and sustainability of fish cultivation. In this study, a number of important components that contribute to the success of fish farming were identified, including land area, fishery commodities, natural resources, human resources, environmental conditions, and available facilities and infrastructure.
Climbing perch Cultivation Fishery Village located in Karang Intan Village has an actual land area of 14.77 hectares with a potential land area of 300-400 hectares. This shows that there is a very big opportunity for the development of Climbing perch aquaculture in the future. The superior and high economic value commodity that is cultivated is Climbing perch. Several fish farming groups have also implemented Good Fish Breeding Methods in accordance with the requirements of fish farming areas, although this is not yet completely widespread. This shows that there is an initiative to improve the quality and standards of production, although further guidance is still needed for wider application.
In terms of natural resources, this area has access to sufficient irrigation water to support cultivation activities in accordance with the requirements of the fisheries cultivation area. The environmental conditions of the Climbing perch Cultivation Village location experienced major flooding in 2021, meaning that the environmental conditions do not yet meet the requirements for a fishery cultivation area. Human resources in this area consist of 32 fish farmers.
Production facilities such as broodstock, seeds, feed, fertilizer and medicines are generally obtained through purchases from other farmers or nearby shops, while the means of transporting production results use pick-up trucks and motorbikes. This indicates that the supply and distribution chain is still simple, but adequate for the current business scale.
Infrastructure aspects, road access to the location is classified as slightly damaged, so it can still be passed but requires repair so as not to disrupt mobility and distribution of production results. Road access plays an important role in the development and sustainability of fish farming, as it facilitates the transportation of inputs, outputs, and labor, thereby increasing productivity and economic sustainability. In the context of Seven Maar Lakes, road infrastructure is critical to the development of tourism and aquaculture, although some lakes still face challenges with road accessibility, which hinders aquaculture facilitation and tourism expansion (Tanjung et al, 2022). Similarly, in Baruten, Nigeria, improving rural road transportation has been shown to increase agricultural productivity by reducing post-harvest losses and improving market access, which can be analogously beneficial for fish farming by ensuring timely access to markets and inputs (Haryadi et al, 2014). In India, the implementation of agricultural access roads has significantly increased farmer incomes by enabling timely farming operations and access to markets, suggesting that similar infrastructure can support fish farming by improving access to farming locations and markets (Bujur et al, 2015). Meanwhile, irrigation channels use a primary irrigation system that has been utilized effectively by farmers. Irrigation infrastructure plays a critical role in the integration and sustainability of fish farming, especially in areas facing water scarcity. Integrating aquaculture with irrigation systems can improve water use efficiency and support rural farmers, as demonstrated in Malawi, where system dynamics modeling was used to allocate water between fish ponds and crop fields, maintaining optimal conditions for both companies (Chunga et al., 2022).
Most indicators have met or are quite close to the expected criteria in the development of aquaculture villages. There are important notes related to:
- implementation of Good Fish Breeding Practices standards that are not yet evenly distributed;
- incomplete HR data;
- risky environmental conditions (history of flooding), and road access infrastructure that still needs improvement.
Improvements in these aspects are needed so that the management of fishing villages becomes more optimal and sustainable.
Table 5 presents a comprehensive overview of the level of perception of fish farmers towards the Decree of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Number 111 of 2023 based on three main indicators, namely: understanding, acceptance, and assessment.
The level of understanding of farmers regarding the contents of the policy showed a total score of 70 out of a maximum score of 128. This indicates that most farmers have a level of understanding that is still classified as moderate, with the majority of respondents (40.6%) only understanding one of the three indicators of policy substance, and 28.1% not understanding at all. This shows that socialization and education related to the contents of PERMEN-KP No. 111 of 2023 have not been optimal. Understanding plays an important role in improving perception by influencing how sensory information is processed and interpreted. Perceptual skills can be improved through self-awareness, empathy, and recognizing perceptual distortions, which allows individuals to interact more effectively with reality and others (Heinricks & Kleiner, 2014).
The level of acceptance of the policy showed a relatively high score, namely 93 out of 128, or 72.65%. This reflects that even though understanding is not yet comprehensive, the majority of farmers still show an accepting attitude towards the existence of this program. A total of 32 respondents considered this policy to be very good, good and quite good in terms of acceptance, such as supporting programs and development of superior commodities and being willing to accept assistance from the government. The relationship between acceptance and perception in the context of fisheries policy is multifaceted, involving a range of stakeholders and farmer views on management practices. Acceptance of fisheries policies, such as Marine Protected Areas (Kawasan Lindung Laut), is significantly influenced by fishers’ perceptions of the fairness, effectiveness, and impact of these policies on the livelihoods of fish farmers. For example, in Korea, recreational fishermen's support for MPAs and no-take zones was closely related to farmers' perceptions of the positive effects of these areas, although highly specialized fishermen tended to be less supportive (Kim et al., 2024). Similarly, in Minnesota, acceptance of fisheries management decisions was mediated by perceptions of procedural justice and trust in management institutions, highlighting the importance of perceptions of justice and trust in gaining stakeholder acceptance (Schroeder & Fulton, 2017). The relationship between acceptance and perception in a policy context is multifaceted, involving a variety of psychological and contextual factors that influence public support for policy measures. Perceived fairness emerged as an important determinant of policy acceptance across contexts. For example, in the case of an on-site wastewater treatment policy in Bengaluru, India, acceptance was significantly mediated by perceived distributive perceptions, with individual perceptions of policy outcomes for different societal groups playing a crucial role (Kollmann et al., 2024).
The assessment level of the real benefits of the policy recorded a very low score, namely only 37 out of 128 (or 28.9%). This shows that even though the policy is widely accepted, farmers have not felt the direct impacts such as increased production, economic welfare, and increased participation of local communities. Individual assessments of fisheries policies significantly influence farmers' perceptions and behaviors toward fisheries management, as evidenced by various studies in various regions. In Croatia, small-scale fishers viewed national and EU fisheries policies negatively, feeling excluded from the decision-making process, which affected farmers' emotional responses and resilience in the sector (Matić-Skoko & Stagličić, 2020). Similarly, in Chile, perceptions of procedural fairness in fisheries management highlighted the importance of participatory decision-making and the use of local knowledge, although challenges remain due to inflexible legal structures (Estévez et al., 2021). In Indonesia, perceptions of government regulations on fishing are measured as diverse, with most fishermen being unaware of the policies, which affects the benefits perceived by farmers (Baharudin et al., 2024). The perception of fish farmers towards the Decree of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Number 111 of 2023 received a total score of 200 and was included in the moderate category. ". This means that in general, farmers do not reject the policy, but farmers have also not received significant benefits or impacts from its implementation.
Based on the description above, of course, the introduction of KEPMEN-KP Number 111 of 2023 to the community needs to be improved so that this Decree can be known by all farmers in the Climbing perch Farming Village Area. In addition, the government needs to hold more activities related to the Climbing perch Farming Village Area program so that people in the Area can participate and feel the benefits of the KEPMEN directly.
Perception is a multifaceted process that involves selecting, organizing, and interpreting information to understand the world around them. This process is very important in various contexts, including organizational settings, where individuals must navigate and interpret large amounts of information to make informed decisions. The concept of selective attention plays an important role in perception, as it involves filtering information through an imperfect perceptual process that is influenced by the characteristics of the observer and the object being observed (Widianti, 2023). In an organizational environment, individuals often enter with preconceived perceptions that are formed from previous information or personal curiosity, which guide understanding and the behavior of farmers in that setting (Ilmira, 2023). Perception is not only a cognitive process but also a philosophical and moral process, as it encompasses empirical, phenomenological, and moral dimensions, reflecting broader debates about human experience and scientific methodology (Wu, 2022). In specific studies, such as those examining perceptions of educational quality or tourism development, perceptions are shaped by direct experiences and social interactions, leading to different interpretations and assessments of reality (Widiastuti et al., 2024) (Murdana et al., 2022). Furthermore, perception is deeply rooted in sensory experiences and interpreted through the lens of past experiences, highlighting its subjective nature (Lam et al., 2020). Overall, perception is a dynamic and complex process that significantly influences how individuals interpret and interact with the farming environment across multiple domains.
Previous research conducted by Puteri et al (2024) discussed the perceptions of shrimp farmers regarding the development plan for an Integrated Shrimp Cultivation Area or Shrimp Estate designed by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) in Lamanu Village, Kabawo District, Muna Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. This program aims to increase the production of whiteleg shrimp on a large scale through an intensive cultivation system from upstream to downstream managed by the Public Service Agency (BLU), with a land area of 1,000 hectares. This study aims to determine the socio-economic characteristics of fish farmers and the perceptions of farmers regarding the program plan. The method used is descriptive statistics based on scoring from primary and secondary data with a total of 44 respondents, selected using the Slovin formula. The results of the study showed that the majority of farmers were of productive age (86.36%), had basic education (SD) as much as 43.19%, had less than 10 years of cultivation experience (56.82%), and had small family responsibilities and pond land of 0.5–2 hectares (59.10%). The perception of shrimp farmers towards the integrated shrimp farming area program is generally good. As many as 95.45% of respondents had good knowledge of the program, 61.36% showed good interpretation, and 100% gave a positive response to the existence of the program. This positive perception reflects a good understanding of the program's objectives, enthusiasm for intensive farming methods, and expectations of the economic benefits to be obtained, such as increased income and job creation. The average value of the perception index obtained was 83%, which indicates that this program was well received by the shrimp farmer community. Thus, it can be concluded that shrimp farmers in Lamanu Village are ready to support the implementation of the Shrimp Estate program, as long as it is accompanied by effective communication and active community involvement in every stage of its implementation.
There are several things that the local government can do to improve the perception of farmers towards KEPMEN-KP Number 111 of 2023, including:
- Conducting socialization and promotion regarding the Papuyu Village Program in a structured manner;
- Carrying out socialization about the Papuyu Village Program in a sustainable and comprehensive manner to all levels of society in the Area;
- Conduct scheduled training and counseling that can be attended by all levels of society (not only by Climbing perch farmers);
- All communities in the area are involved in the implementation and management of the Papuyu Village Program.
The Climbing perch Farming Village Area in Karang Intan Village has an actual cultivation area of 14.77 hectares and a potential land of 300-340 hectares with supporting facilities and infrastructure even though the road access is slightly damaged, and is supported by 32 human resources, some of whom have implemented Good Fish Seeding Methods; The perception of farmers towards the Aquaculture Village program is classified as moderate, where farmers agree with the existence of the program but have not felt any significant benefits or impacts since its implementation.
Original paper, i.e. Figures, Tables, References, and Authors' Contacts available at http://rjoas.com/issue-2025-05/article_14.pdf