The High Cost of Fish Maw: Cross-Border Fishing and the Risks Faced by Fishers and Fishing Vessel Crew from Merauke Along the Papua New Guinea Border
July 27, 2026
Writer: Zelila Khairunnisa A., DFW Indonesia Researcher Along the coast of Merauke, fishers and their wives continue to recount one troubling reality: Indonesia’s seas are no longer able to provide enough to support their families. Over the past two to three years, fish catches in Indonesian waters have steadily declined. Concerns over dwindling fish stocks have been further intensified by the arrival of Shrimp Trawl Net (known as Jaring Hela Udang Berkantong/JHUB) vessels operating in Fisheries Management Area (Wilayah Pengelolaan Perikanan or WPP) 718. This situation has driven larger fishing
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