Enhancing Fishermen's Economic Stability through Transformative Economic Innovation Education in the Talaud Islands
Sustainable Product and Income Diversification
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36526/santhet.v9i5.6093Keywords:
Fishermen's Economy, Transformative Economy, Product Diversification, Innovation Education, Talaud IslandAbstract
This study proposes a transformative economic innovation education model to strengthen the economic resilience of fishing communities in the Talaud Islands, Indonesia, where livelihoods are highly vulnerable to climate variability and market instability. Given the absence of established diversification initiatives, a participatory multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach was adopted to identify and prioritize feasible product alternatives. The research was conducted in Gemeh District using a mixed-methods design, integrating qualitative insights with quantitative analysis. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) involving 25 fishermen and five community representatives were conducted to identify eight potential diversification options based on local resource availability and cultural relevance. Subsequently, a decision matrix was constructed using data from 20 active fishermen who evaluated alternatives across seven criteria: initial capital, skill level, weather resilience, income potential, market access, community support, and environmental sustainability. The ANP-EWM-TOPSIS hybrid method was applied to generate a balanced weighting system, combining subjective judgments (via ANP) and objective data variation (via EWM) before the final ranking. Wall décor from marine materials emerged as the top-ranked alternative (CC = 0.817), followed by fermented fish sauce (CC = 0.761), and seaweed farming (CC = 0.739), due to low capital requirements, high weather resilience, and strong community alignment. In contrast, floating net cage aquaculture ranked lowest owing to its high risk and climate vulnerability. These findings demonstrate that land-based, culture-rooted, and waste-utilizing activities offer the most viable pathways for adaptive livelihoods. They concluded that economic resilience can be enhanced through education models that integrate local knowledge, participatory decision-making, and sustainable value addition. This study provides a replicable framework for empowering remote coastal communities in Indonesia and other archipelagic regions.
References
Arulingam, I., Nigussie, L., Senaratna Sellamuttu, S., & Debevec, L. (2019). Youth participation in small-scale fisheries, aquaculture and value chains in Africa and the Asia-Pacific. CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems.
Asad, M. M., Naz, A., Churi, P., Guerrero, A. J. M., & Salameh, A. A. (2022). Mix method approach of measuring VR as a pedagogical tool to enhance experimental learning: Motivation from literature survey of previous study. Education Research International, 2022(1), 8262304.
Asadabadi, M. R., Chang, E., & Saberi, M. (2019). Are MCDM methods useful? A critical review of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and analytic network process (ANP). Cogent Engineering, 6(1), 1623153.
Carmen, E., Fazey, I., Ross, H., Bedinger, M., Smith, F. M., Prager, K., McClymont, K., & Morrison, D. (2022). Building community resilience in a context of climate change: The role of social capital. Ambio, 51(6), 1371–1387.
Edwards Jr, D. B. (2019). Shifting the perspective on community-based management of education: From systems theory to social capital and community empowerment. International Journal of Educational Development, 64, 17–26.
Emery, M., & Flora, C. (2020). Spiraling-up: Mapping community transformation with community capitals framework. In 50 Years of Community Development Vol I (pp. 163–179). Routledge.
Fauzi, M., Zain, N. M., Foziah, H. M., Noor, S. M., & Nawi, A. M. (2020). A Review Paper on Production Efficiency Factors for the Small-scale Fisheries Entrepreneur in Fishery Industry.
Gupta, O. J., Yadav, S., Srivastava, M. K., Darda, P., & Mishra, V. (2024). Understanding the intention to use metaverse in healthcare utilizing a mix method approach. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 17(2), 318–329.
Hassink, R., Gong, H., Fröhlich, K., & Herr, A. (2022). Exploring the scope of regions in challenge-oriented innovation policy: The case of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. European Planning Studies, 30(11), 2293–2311.
He, Z., Cao, H., Hu, Q., Zhang, Y., Nan, X., & Li, Z. (2023). Optimization of apple irrigation and N fertilizer in Loess Plateau of China based on ANP-EWM-TOPSIS comprehensive evaluation. Scientia Horticulturae, 311, 111794.
Khan, A. U., & Ali, Y. (2020). Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and analytic network process methods and their applications: a twenty year review from 2000-2019: AHP & ANP techniques and their applications: Twenty years review from 2000 to 2019. International Journal of the Analytic Hierarchy Process, 12(3).
Kim, M., Xie, Y., & Cirella, G. T. (2019). Sustainable transformative economy: Community-based ecotourism. Sustainability, 11(18), 4977.
Meir, D., & Fletcher, T. (2019). The transformative potential of using participatory community sport initiatives to promote social cohesion in divided community contexts. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 54(2), 218–238.
Murungi, T. M. (2020). Determinants of Sustainability of Community Based Ecotourism Development Projects in Kenya. A Case of Northern Rangeland Trust Conservancy, Meru County. University of Nairobi.
Patonah, I., Sambella, M., & Az-Zahra, S. M. (2023). Pendekatan Penelitian Pendidikan: Penelitian Kualitatif, Kuantitatif dan Kombinasi (Mix Method). Pendas: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 8(3), 5378–5392.
Peng, X.-Y., Zou, X.-Y., Zhao, X.-X., & Chang, C.-P. (2023). How does economic policy uncertainty affect green innovation? Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 29(1), 114–140.
Perić, J., Oberman Peterka, S., & Getoš, Ž. (2020). The role of vocational education in developing entrepreneurial competences of students. Ekonomski Pregled, 71(5), 463–492.
Phelan, A., Ruhanen, L., & Mair, J. (2020). Ecosystem services approach for community-based ecotourism: towards an equitable and sustainable blue economy. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 28(10), 1665–1685.
Putri, V., Yukihana, A., Shafira, A., Tasya, A., & Al-Aufa, B. (2019). The entrepreneurship capacity building program and empowering fisherwomen Sawohan Village, East Java. ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement, 3(2), 4.
Sari, B. B., & Purwantoro, A. N. A. (2025). STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN USAHA IKAN SALAI UNTUK MENINGKATKAN PENDAPATAN DI DESA KEPENUHAN HULU. Integrative Perspectives of Social and Science Journal, 2(2 Maret), 1638–1645.
Taherdoost, H., & Madanchian, M. (2023). Analytic Network Process (ANP) method: A comprehensive review of applications, advantages, and limitations. Journal of Data Science and Intelligent Systems, 1(1), 12–18.
Uyarra, E., Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, J. M., Flanagan, K., & Magro, E. (2020). Public procurement, innovation and industrial policy: Rationales, roles, capabilities and implementation. Research Policy, 49(1), 103844.
Wang, L., Jin, S., & Li, C. (2023). Research on the impact mechanism of enterprise green technology innovation based on the analysis framework of theory of planned behavior: evidence from heavily polluting listed enterprises in China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(4), 9974–10000.
Zamroni, A., Wijaya, R. A., Triyanti, R., Huda, H. M., Satrioajie, W. N., Dewitasari, Y., & FIRDAUS, M. (2023). A CONCEPT OF OPEN-CLOSED SEASON APPROACH FOR INDONESIAN BLUE SWIMMING CRAB (PORTUNUS PELAGICUS) MANAGEMENT ON THE NORTH COAST OF JAVA. International Journal of Conservation Science, 14(3).
