Socio-Economic Assessment of Grouper Fishermen and Their Perceptions on Mariculture Development in Buleleng District, Bali, Indonesia

Various activities in the coastal area of Buleleng-Bali for many years affected to the sustainability of mariculture activities. This research aimed to 1) identify the problems of groupers farming in fish cages, 2) analyze the cost-benefit of grouper farming and 3) analyze fish farmer perceptions on mariculture development. Primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed by using descriptive, financial and Likert-type analyzes. The results show that the average production of grouper farming was 450 – 7500 kg per harvest. The main problems in groupers farming are related to uncertainty market demand in recent years, financial capital limitation, high price of fish feeding, and low productivity. Benefit-cost analysis revealed that the benefit-cost ratio is 1.92 (B/C ratio > 1) and the payback period (PP) is 2.3 years (project life assumption: 10 years) and the internal rate return (IRR) is 12%. It means that grouper farming is economically visible to develop in Buleleng District. Fish farmers as well as local stakeholders have positive perception and active participation in grouper farming using floating-fish cages. Fish farmers also needs special trainings related to disease management, seed selection, marketing, and good aquaculture practices. The main obstacles of price and capacity faced by farmers for using various sensors to reduce the risk of mass fish death and other climate change effects should be of special concern to local and central government to install a set of equipment to control and reduce the impact of environmental changes on all grouper floating cages.