SEARCA & CCham/Indonesia/2026
Casting Wider Nets of Support: Sama-Bajau Fishers and the Many Relationships Behind Climate Resilience
SEARCA
Visit Link (opens in a new tab)Description
Casting Wider Nets of Support is a 2026 SEARCA Case Story Series publication that explores the many relationships behind the climate resilience of Sama-Bajau fishers in Indonesia. It draws on SEARCA-supported doctoral research by Amar Maruf on climate change, fisheries management and the Sama-Bajau people of Southeast Sulawesi. Written in an accessible narrative style, the case story describes how shifting weather patterns, sea-level rise and other pressures create livelihood risks for Sama-Bajau fishing communities. Its central message is that resilience depends not only on individual coping but on a wide web of support and relationships. These include social networks within and between communities, access to credit, links to markets and traders, availability of equipment, training opportunities, timely information, and the ability to express collective voice in decisions that affect them. By highlighting these connections, the story shows how institutions, organisations and policy can strengthen or weaken fishers’ resilience. Classed as direct evidence under Livelihoods, Gender and Socioeconomics, it is a current social-resilience case story. It is useful for communicating research findings to non-specialist audiences, for training and advocacy, and for informing programmes that aim to build social and institutional support for small-scale fishers in Southeast Asia.
Additional Details
- Author(s)
- based on SEARCA-supported doctoral research by Amar Maruf; SEARCA
- Type
- Case Story Series
- Aquaculture / Fisheries Dimension
- Small-scale fisheries; fishing livelihoods; institutional and social support
- Relevance to Climate Aquaculture
- Direct
- Thematic Area
- Livelihoods, Gender & Socioeconomics
- Climate Issue
- Shifting weather patterns; sea-level rise; livelihood risks
- Adaptation / Key Contribution
- Networks, credit, markets, equipment, training, information and collective voice
- How to Use / Notes
- Current social-resilience case story