Political Ecology Analysis on Marine Ornamental Fish Eco-labelling (Case Study Les Village, Bali, Indonesia).

Abstract

Eco-labelling is the agent of change of marine ornamental fishing pattern in North Bali by promoting environmental friendliness and raising issues regarding inequality in social, economic, political, and ecological dimension of marine ornamental fish fisher's livelihood. Historically, Les fishermen have carried out marine ornamental fish for export purposes since 1982 until now. In its journey, the ship chose to use cyanide to facilitate the process of catching marine ornamental fish. The use of cyanide has an adverse effect on Les' marine environment, a priority in the 2000s, fishermen reached the lowest economic point and the worst point for the Les environment. Destroyed coral reefs and lost fish, their numbers and types of fish are very dependent on Les's economy. Eco-labelling is present as an answer carried by local NGOs, with values and criteria that must meet the requirements for sustainability and environmental sustainability. There are several actors involved in the eco-labelling issues, namely state, non-governmental organization (NGO), private sectors, and fishers. This paper aims to analyze the characteristic of actors, their interest, and their impacts on marine ornamental fish trade and its certification of eco-labelling. Price disparity between ornamental fish fisher and exporters on the economic dimension is unbeneficial to the fishers. Plus, the inability of fisher to participate in determining the price attributes to the lack of political ability of fisher on this trade. Since ornamental fish fisher switched from using cyanide to catch fish with environmental friendly way as using, ecologically, they savor the benefits of this. Yet the absence of the state's roles in this cause new chaos. This research was qualitative in nature and collected primary and secondary data using a case approach. As the conclusion, fisher’s still being marginalized in politicized environment.