Technology and Distribution of Octopus ornatus Fishery in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Octopus cyanea fishing using artificial bait has been in full swing since around 2010 in Indonesia. In Central Sulawesi, Sama-Bajau fishermen engage in that fishing, and has become one of the most popular fishing methods, especially among the younger generation.

In the past, Sama-Bajau people mainly caught high-end marine products such as sea cucumbers, shark fins, and groupers, and these were very important products in maritime Southeast Asia. However, they have been severely affected by several factors, including falling sea cucumber prices, depleted stocks, policies, crackdown on illegal fishing, and import restrictions on the market due to the impact of COVID-19.

Fishermen originally did not fish for octopus for trading, but as domestic and international demand increased, the price of octopus gradually increased, and they began to specialize in octopus fishing. These external factors are also changing the fishing method itself. One of the brokers in Sulawesi says that the export of octopuses to the European market had either salted or poor-quality products. However, the need for high-quality octopuses has been increased in Japan, Europe, and China. For that reason, they also fear that the use of spear guns and harpoons will damage it and reduce its quality. To keep high quality, they recommend and teach hand line fishing using artificial bait.

　This paper will attempt to investigate the changes in local technology, sales and distribution, and the expansion to global markets surrounding the octopuses as a starting point, as the trade in high-end marine products is changing today.