Ecosystem Approaches of Fisheries Management (EAFM) is one approach to fisheries management that no longer focuses on target species, but utilizes decision-making that balances environmental or ecosystem, human, and social well-being with a sound framework. This concept upholds that fisheries depend on a healthy ecosystem, so that each component in the ecosystem affects each other.

Fisheries Resource Center of Indonesia together with related institutions/agencies collaborate to apply EAFM for snapper and grouper fisheries in Saleh Bay, West Nusa Tenggara. On October 8-10, 2024, Prof. Budy Wiryawan, as the advisor of FRCI was invited to the Technical workshop on experiences of EAF implementation in Asia in Penang, Malaysia which was attended by 10 main authors. Prof. Buddy was invited as a speaker to present a manuscript for the upcoming FAO Technical Paper publication. The title is “Lessons from Efforts to Sustainably Manage Small-Scale Grouper and Snapper Fisheries in Saleh Bay”.

The implementation of EAFM in Saleh Bay, West Nusa Tenggara provided many new insights, lessons and experiences. The management of the bay area requires various tactics, one of which is the enforcement of rules and regulations such as the minimum size of fish catch, hooks, and nets. Not only that, stakeholder cooperation, establishing a regulatory framework, and implementing adaptive management are also important to achieve the ecological and socioeconomic goals of fisheries in Saleh Bay.