The Arafura Sea is one of Indonesia’s most important fishing grounds. It is rich in biodiversity, strategically located across national borders, and provides vital livelihoods for coastal communities.
Within this region, Dobo stands out as a major fishing hub, landing an average of 32,172 tonnes of fish annually. The area forms part of Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 718, which is now considered fully exploited as demand for seafood continues to rise.
The dominant fishing gears used by both local and visiting fishers are gillnets and purse seines. These methods are highly effective, but when lost or abandoned, they can pose serious environmental risks. Abandoned, Lost, or otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG), often called ghost gear, can continue trapping marine life long after they are left behind.
Fishers’ Experiences
ALDFG has become a global issue in fisheries due to its multiple impacts: polluting ecosystems, threatening Endangered, Threatened, and Protected (ETP) species, reducing productivity, causing economic losses, and endangering navigation.
“My net often gets caught on coral or rocks due to strong undercurrents. Sometimes only the floats make it back to the boat while the rest remains stuck on the seafloor. Once, my net was struck and torn apart by a passenger boat’s propeller. It was a big loss that night. My catch was poor and I had to buy a new net,” said Angel Berthus, a traditional gillnet fisher from Dobo.
Ghost gear causes not only financial losses but also risks to navigation.
“If a net gets cut and cannot be retrieved, it drifts with the current and becomes dangerous for ships. Many times, vessels passing through get their propellers entangled,” said Kelvin Hadi Saputra, another gillnet fisher from Dobo.
There are also cases where nets are damaged by large marine animals.
“Every night, our nets get torn badly because of dolphins. I’m not blaming them, but the more we try to chase them away, the more of them come, and the nets end up even more damaged. Usually, the torn parts are thrown away on land and replaced with new ones,” explained Thonci Karel Ratu, a traditional fisher from Dobo.
Not all stories are about loss. Some fishers find drifting nets that are still usable and decide to reuse them rather than let them pollute the sea.
“I found this net floating with no owner, so I decided to reuse it for my own,” said Arifin, a gillnet fisher from Dobo. These stories reveal the different ways ghost gear affects fishers and the ecosystems they depend on.
From Awareness to Action
The challenges faced by fishers in Dobo reflect a wider issue across the Arafura and Timor Seas. Recognising this, the ATSEA Program is working with partners to find coordinated solutions. In collaboration with IPB University and Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), the ATSEA team conducted a field survey in Dobo from 10–17 September 2025. The survey aimed to collect insights and data to support the development of ghost gear mitigation strategies.
In Dobo, the team interviewed 58 fishers and collected 35 net samples for further analysis at IPB University’s laboratory. Interviews and field observations helped map hotspot areas and gathered local insights.
“We are currently working to address this fishing net waste problem. One of our plans is to develop a local regulation to manage waste from fishing activities,” said Benyamin S. Batmomolin, Acting Head of the Aru Islands Regency Fisheries Office.
The findings confirm that ghost gear is real and causes economic, environmental, social, and navigational impacts. Learning from Dobo’s experience, joint action is needed to address the issue. Beyond prevention, mitigation efforts could also create new economic opportunities, such as responsible management of end-of-life fishing gear.
Protecting the ocean is not the job of a few. It is everyone’s responsibility. from the fishers in Dobo to the partners working across the Arafura and Timor Seas. With goodwill and small, consistent actions, we can keep the seas productive and full of life.
By By Ganang Dwi Prasetyo (IPB University)