The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a long-lived migratory species inhabiting tropical and warm-temperate waters worldwide. Seasonal aggregations of whale sharks in shallow coastal waters of many countries have led to the development of ecotourism industries. Whale sharks that aggregate seasonally at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia have a migration range within Indonesian and Southeast Asian waters. However, very little is known about their behaviour, local migration patterns, or potential threats faced in this region. In this study, we investigated traditional ecological knowledge of whale sharks through interviews with Bajo and other fi shers from fi ve settlements in the Timor and Roti Islands in eastern Indonesia. We found that there are culturally driven prohibitions and customary beliefs concerning whale sharks among Bajo fi shermen, who commonly sight sharks in the Timor Sea, in southern Indonesian and Timor Leste waters. Sightings are most common during the months of August to December. Interviews also indicate a low level of harvesting of whale sharks in the region. The results demonstrate the potential for combining traditional ecological knowledge and new technology to develop whale shark management strategies, and to determine the predictability of whale shark appearances as one vital factor in assessing the potential for development of small-scale whale shark ecotourism initiatives.

Pemanfaatan sumber daya di wilayah pesisir mencakup konteks sosial multiple use, berbagai bentuk kepemilikan, dan konflik atas penggunaan sumber daya. Sistem ekologi di daerah  pesisir sangat berhubungan erat dengan/dan dipengaruhi oleh satu atau lebih sistem sosial. Pendekatan kontemporer pengelolaan pesisir dan lautan berbasis sosial - ekologi pada dasarnya adalah integrasi antara pemahaman ekologi (ecological understanding) dan  nilai – nilai sosial ekonomi (socio-economic value).  Analisis sistem ekologi-sosial (SES) dalam pengelolaan wilayah pesisir terpadu  mampu memberikan suatu pendekatan yang interdisipliner dan framework pengelolaan sumber daya yang berkelanjutan. Analisis SES dapat menjadi basis pengetahuan untuk mengatasi secara sistematis masalah yang kompleks dalam pengelolaan pesisir secara terpadu, selain itu juga dapat mengembangkan suatu strategi berbasis pengetahuan dalam memahami proses-proses ekologi dan sosial pada dimensi sistem dan skala yang berbeda.Title: Social – Ecological System (SES) Approach In Integrated Coastal ManagementUtilization of resources in coastal areas includes multiple use social contexts, various forms of ownership, and conflicts of interest. The purpose of this paper is to learn about the Social-Ecological System approach in integrated coastal management. Ecological systems in coastal areas have a very close relationship with / and are influenced by the social system. Basically the contemporary approach of coastal management based on social-ecology system (SES) is the integration between ecological understanding and socio-economic value. SES analysis in integrated coastal area management is able to provide an interdisciplinary approach and a sustainable resource management framework. SES analysis can be a knowledge base for dealing systematically with complex problems in integrated coastal management, while also developing a knowledge-based strategy in understanding ecological and social processes in different dimensions of the system and scale.

Pengelolaan perikanan dengan pendekatan ekosistem (Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management - EAFM) merupakan pilihan yang tepat dalam mencapai tujuan pengelolaan perikanan skala kecil yang berkelanjutan. Penelitian ini penting untuk menilai status pengelolaan perikanan skala kecil dan menyusun strategi perbaikan pengelolaan menuju pada pengelolaan perikanan skala kecil yang berkelanjutan dengan pendekatan ekosistem di Kabupaten Rote Ndao. Penelitian dilakukan pada 11 desa/kelurahan di Kabupaten Rote Ndao, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan teknik wawancara, pengambilan contoh ikan dan pengukuran hasil tangkapan ikan, mengacu pada metode penilaian indikator EAFM yang mencakup 30 indikator dari enam domain. Pengelolaan perikanan skala kecil di Kabupaten Rote Ndao berdasarkan hasil penilaian terhadap seluruh domain EAFM diperoleh nilai komposit berkisar 30,0 – 63,6 dengan nilai rata-rata 52,4. Nilai tersebut mengindikasikan bahwa status pengelolaan perikanan skala kecil di Kabupaten Rote Ndao secara umum tergolong dalam kategori sedang. Hasil penilaian menurut domain EAFM menunjukan bahwa domain ekonomi tergolong dalam kategori buruk, sedangkan domain sumberdaya ikan, habitat dan ekosistem, teknologi penangkapan ikan, sosial, dan kelembagaan tergolong dalam kategori sedang. Hasil ini menunjukan bahwa pengelolaan perikanan skala kecil di Kabupaten Rote Ndao belum dikelola dengan baik dengan menerapkan prinsip-prinsip keberlanjutan berdasarkan indikator EAFM. Peningkatan domain ekonomi yang terfokus pada indikator pendapatan rumah tangga perikanan dan rasio tabungan menjadi prioritas utama dalam upaya perbaikan pengelolaan perikanan skala kecil di Kabupaten Rote Ndao.Title: Strategy of Ecosystem Approach to Small-Scale Fisheries Management in Rote Ndao District, East Nusa TenggaraEcosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) is an effective method to manage sustainable small-scale fisheries. This research aims to evaluate the current status of small-scale fisheries management using EAFM indicators as well as to establish the development strategies of sustainable small-scale fisheries using ecosystem approach in Rote Ndao. The study was conducted in 11 villages in Rote Ndao District, East Nusa Tenggara Province. Data were collected through interviews, fish sampling and measuring referring to EAFM analysis covering 30 indicators grouped into 6 domains. The EAFM analysis generates a composite value ranged between 30,0 – 63,6 with an average value of 52.4. This number indicated that the condition status of the small scale fisheries in Rote Ndao was generally in moderate category. Economic domain is in poor category, while the other domains is in moderate category (fish resource, habitat and ecosystem, fishing technology, social and institution) These findings suggested that small-scale fisheries management in Rote Ndao has not been managed optimally based on sustainable principles in EAFM. Improvement in the economic domain focusing on indicators of fisheries household income and saving ratio were the main priorities for the improvement of small-scale fisheries management in Rote Ndao district

Flying fish (Exocoetidae) is one important small pelagic fisheries commodity in border areas of Indonesia and Timor Leste. However, the data of population parameters in Ombai Strait are not yet known, which is important to inform unit stock management and sustainable fisheries. This study aimed to provide information about growth and mortality parameters, recruitment pattern, and exploitation rate of flying fish. Data collection was carried out during May 2018-June 2019 by measuring and observing the flying fish landed at the fish landing sites in Belu Indonesia and Bobonaro Timor Leste. Data analysis used the FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools (FiSAT) program. The results showed that the asymptotic length (L∞) was 330.5 mm, growth constant (K) was 0.99 per year, and growth performance indices (Φ) was 0.50. The natural mortality (M) was 0.92 per year, fishing mortality (F) was 0.12 per year, and total mortality (Z) was 1.04 per year. The highest recruitment occurs in May to September with peak season in June (14.82%) and September (15.16%). Exploitation rate (E) flying fish in the border area of Indonesia and Timor Leste in Ombai Strait is relatively low about 0.11 and still at a rational and sustainable utilization range (E < 0.5).