Jayapura Marine Affairs and Fisheries Service (Dinas Kelautan dan Perikanan/DKP) presented a fisheries tourism potential to Badan Pengarah Percepatan Pembangunan Otonomi Khusus Papua (BP3OKP) on 5 April 2023.
Head of DKP Jayapura, Rudi Saragih, stated that the potential location in Pantai Pasir Enam is feasible due to its supportive nature.
The beach is under the indigenous Nechiebe culture, so the DKP has established a closeness with the customary owner of the Nechiebe since 2017. Thus, they make a plan so they can make the Nechiebe region a fisheries tourism area.
Rudi confirmed that he and the Nechiebe’s chief, Daniel Toto, had prepared a master design for the fisheries tourism plan within the area. He hopes the locals have business literacy so they can cultivate their nature for their welfare.
The Prospect of Fisheries Tourism
There are several alternatives for making the local environment into a fisheries tourism area. Here are some of the alternatives:
1. Perikanan Tangkap (Capture Fishing)
Tourists can learn more about the local’s fish such as mumar, kebo, yellowtail skipjack, deho, bubara, and others. Tourists can also engage in the locals’ daily lives, such as spending the night in their hut, fishing with their traditional boats, and more.
2. Perikanan Budidaya (Aquaculture)
This could be a Fisheries educational tourism where tourists can learn how to cultivate the fish and harvest them.
3. Tempat Pelelangan Ikan (TPI)
TPI or fish auction can also be an attractive fisheries tourism because tourists not only can witness the biodiversity of the locals but also buy and cook them as well.
The Benefits of Fisheries Tourism
Fisheries Tourism has an important impact on coastal people because it can help improve their economic development. Such tourism may open many new potential incomes to the locals due to the many tourists visiting the area.
Here are some of the benefits of fisheries tourism to the locals:
- Open Plenty of Business Opportunities
When tourism is thriving, then they will require to provide the tourists with proper accommodations, local foods, and more. Thus, the locals can start business opportunities such as opening cottages, restaurants, food stalls, selling local handicrafts, and more.
- Open Many New Job Opportunities
As there are many new business opportunities, job opportunities will also be available. Thus, many unemployed locals can start looking for a job that suits their skills and ability well.
Things to Consider When Implementing a Fisheries Tourism
A thriving fisheries tourism development is beneficial due to its potential to accelerate the locals’ economy. However, the government also has to consider many important things concerning tourism, as follows:
1. Help Protect The Biodiversity
Even though tourism can accelerate local economic development, the government must consider environmental sustainability. They have to emphasize the need for such tourism to be in accordance with biodiversity protection.
2. Provide Training and Education to The Locals
The government also has to train the fishermen, fish farmers, and their families so they will have the skills and knowledge to welcome tourists. This way, they will guarantee the tourist’s safety and provide them with the best experience.
3. Promote The Local Specialty
The government must empower the locals to promote their specialties, such as the fish species, marine biology, the environment, and its traditions. Accordingly, the tourists will learn their traditions and enjoy an unforgettable vacation.
4. Emphasize Its Own Distinctive Identity
Help the locals not only focus on their traditions and sustainability characteristics but also continuously monitor them to balance the supply and demand.
Conclusions
When the Jayapura DKP presented the idea of fisheries tourism in Pantai Pasir Enam, there was potential ecotourism to develop. However, the government should carefully design tourism so it will not only accelerate the local’s economy but also preserve nature.
Fisheries tourism in West Papua is a promising field due to its supportive nature.
