Rough Seas and El Niño Impact Fishing Income in Maluku Islands
What happened
Blue Ventures shared conservation findings with Mongabay regarding the Maluku Islands. Local monitoring shows that the average fish catch around Ambon and Seram islands fell to 3.6 kilograms between April and July 2026, compared to 8.3 kilograms in 2025 and 10.6 kilograms in 2024. Fishermen report that higher waves and rougher seas are limiting how long they can fish and how far they can travel.
From eco-business.com
Why it matters
Fishing is the main source of income for villages in the Maluku Islands. Fishermen report that recent catches are often only sufficient to cover fuel and food costs. This decline in catches and increased difficulty fishing affects the core economy of the region.
From eco-business.com
Who's involved
- Blue VenturesConservation group that conducted local monitoring and shared findings
- MongabayEnvironmental news website that reported the conservation findings
- SeramIsland within the Maluku Islands where monitoring took place
- Maluku IslandsArchipelago in eastern Indonesia where fishing income is being impacted
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The entities involved
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Seram
island in Maluku Province, Indonesia
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Maluku Islands
archipelago in eastern Indonesia, also called the Spice Islands
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Blue Ventures
science-led social enterprise that develops approaches for marine conservation
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