TULUNGAGUNG – Poor fish catches along the southern coast of Tulungagung have forced many fishermen at Popoh Beach to temporarily leave the sea and seek alternative work, including joining corn harvest activities in nearby forest areas.
Fishing activity at the Popoh Coastal Fishing Port in Besole village, Besuki district, has yet to recover as unstable sea conditions continue reducing daily catches.
Local officials said many fishermen now avoid going out to sea every day because operational costs no longer match the small amount of fish they bring home.
Defit Eko Prasetyo, head of Popoh hamlet, said fishermen have struggled to secure stable catches over the past few weeks.
“There were some rengis fish catches about two weeks ago, but the quantity remained small. Sea conditions are still unstable,” Defit said Monday.
According to him, the current full moon phase has become one of the main causes behind the declining catches. The brighter sea surface during full moon periods often pushes fish farther away from traditional fishing areas.
As a result, many small-scale fishermen have seen their incomes drop sharply.
To cope with the situation, coastal residents have started looking for temporary jobs outside the fisheries sector. Many now work in forest areas that recently entered the corn harvest season.
“Many fishermen have temporarily joined corn harvesting while waiting for fishing conditions to return to normal,” he explained.
The Tulungagung Fisheries Agency also confirmed that fish catches along the southern coastline remain highly unstable.
Ulul Azmi, head of capture fisheries at the agency, said weather conditions continue affecting fishing activity across the region.
“The full moon phase and strong winds have a major impact on fish catches,” Ulul said.
He explained that changing wind patterns and rougher sea conditions have shifted fish movement away from areas commonly used by traditional fishermen.
Strong winds have also limited the number of boats operating in southern waters in recent weeks.
Despite the difficult conditions, local authorities expect fishing activity to improve next month as weather patterns gradually stabilize.
Officials believe calmer waves and more favorable sea conditions could help fishermen return to normal operations.
For many families in Popoh, the recovery cannot come soon enough. Fishing remains the main source of income for most coastal households in the area.
Until conditions improve, many fishermen plan to continue working temporary agricultural jobs to support their families and offset declining seafood income.