10%

Life Beyond Fishing

Passing On the Craft of Net-Making in Merauke

By IW:LEARN

October 22^nd, 2025

In Samkai Village, Merauke District, Indonesia, a group of elderly fishers has found a new way to stay productive even though they can no longer go to sea. They gather at Sanggar Nelayan, a communal workshop where retired fishers make and repair fishing nets, an initiative led by Ilyas Aleks Gebze (50 y.o) since 2010.

As a coastal area in Indonesia’s easternmost region, Merauke is well known for its vibrant fishing activities. However, as the years go by, many elderly fishers are no longer able to venture out to sea, even though they still possess valuable skills in making and repairing fishing nets. Seeing this potential, Ilyas brought them together to work at his home, which has now become a space for daily activities and collaboration.

Today, Sanggar Nelayan has ten elderly members. Every day, they come with nets to repair or materials to make new ones. The workshop is always filled with conversation and laughter as the fishers work together, sewing and mending their nets. Most of the nets are used by younger fishers, including their children who still go to sea, while some are sold to provide additional income for the group.

Ilyas Aleks Gebze, founder of Sanggar Nelayan in Merauke, works on repairing a fishing net at his home workshop

“We may not be able to go to sea anymore, but we can still help those who do,” said Ilyas with a smile. “In this way, the skill of making nets continues to live on and remains useful.”

“Not all fishers know how to make nets,” he added.

“I want this skill to survive so that future generations understand that the sea is not only about catching fish, but also about taking care of the tools we use.”

According to Ilyas, handmade nets are stronger and easier to repair than factory-made ones. When factory-made nets are damaged, they are often beyond repair and end up as waste in the sea. Handmade nets, on the other hand, can be repaired repeatedly, making them more durable and reducing waste.

Concern for the condition of the sea was also one of the reasons behind the establishment of the workshop. A survey conducted by the ATSEA team found that fishers in Merauke often lose their nets after they become entangled on the seabed, such as in coral reefs, rocky areas, or shipwrecks. Each fisher can lose between two and sixty pieces of net per year. This shows that abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) remains a serious challenge in the region. Initiatives like Sanggar Nelayan help reduce this risk by producing nets that are stronger and easier to repair.

In addition to providing social and economic benefits, this initiative also reflects how community awareness can grow from the local level to address marine issues such as ALDFG. A few years ago, Sanggar Nelayan also received support from the District Fisheries Office in the form of 60 sheets of nylon material for net production.

Recently, on 10–11 October 2025, Ilyas shared his knowledge and trained community members in Rawa Biru Village, Merauke District. During the session, he demonstrated how to make and repair nets that are strong and easy to maintain, while encouraging responsible use of fishing gear. The activity served as a meaningful example of how traditional skills can continue to benefit and inspire other coastal communities in Merauke.

Looking ahead, Ilyas hopes that the workshop will continue to thrive and serve as a learning space for younger fishers. He believes that caring for the sea is not only done on the water but also on land, through diligent hands and the spirit of sharing knowledge.

Through Sanggar Nelayan, elderly fishers in Merauke show that caring for the sea can begin with simple actions. With every net repaired, they preserve a tradition, support their community, and help protect the ocean that sustains so many lives.

About the ATSEA Program

The Arafura and Timor Seas Ecosystem Action (ATSEA) Program is a long-term regional initiative that unites the governments of Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste to sustainably manage the shared resources of the Arafura and Timor Seas (ATS). Guided by the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) 2024–2033, ATSEA promotes regional collaboration to address transboundary challenges such as marine plastic and ghost gear, oil spill risks, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the decline of endangered species and critical habitats.

Since its beginnings in 2003 and through two project phases (ATSEA-1 and ATSEA-2), the Program has evolved into a regional coordination mechanism endorsed by ATS countries under the 2024 Sydney Declaration. Today, the ATSEA Program strengthens ocean governance, advances ecosystem-based management, and supports inclusive policies that secure biodiversity, fisheries, and livelihoods for millions of coastal people across the ATS region. The Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) serves as the Program’s first Strategic Development Partner (SDP), providing technical guidance, co-financing and capacity development in support of SAP implementation.

For more information on the ATSEA Program, please contact the Interim Executive Director, Dr Handoko Adi Susanto (hasusanto@pemsea.org), visit the project page on iwlearn.net, or the project website.

Footnotes

Words by Yulia Dewi, ATSEA Program, and Norce Mote, Musamus University. Cover photo: A fisher returning from the sea in Merauke, carrying his catch ashore.

Button Label

FootNotes

Words by Yulia Dewi, ATSEA Program, and Norce Mote, Musamus University. Cover photo: A fisher returning from the sea in Merauke, carrying his catch ashore.