Coastal Community Development and Fisheries Resource Management Project (Co-Fish Project) in Tegal of 1998-2005 and Its Impacts on Fishing Communities

This research examines the issue of why Co-Fish Project is important for the ecosystem in the Tegal Port area and how the project was implemented during 1998-2005 and the impacts of the project on fishing communities. It is used as a historical method with the ecosystem approach because Co-Fish Project intended to maintain, improve, and develop the benefit value and the ecosystem function for the progress of all elements or stakeholders in the ecosystem. The research results show that Co-Fish Project in Tegal City is an integral part of the Coastal Fishing Port (PPP) construction project and the development of the Tegalsari Fish Landing Base (PPI) of Tegal City. Co-Fish Project as a central government project under the coordination and management of the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries with ADB funding sources requires the development and empowerment of the port area ecosystem as an instrument to support the development and sustainability of port activities. It is important because the condition of the existing slum port area is not organized with the socio-economic life of fishermen with high poverty levels and prone to conflicts among the fishermen. The implementation of the Co-Fish Project has a positive impact on reducing poverty and fishermen conflicts due to improvements in infrastructure, sanitation, and the development of fishermen's socio-economic institutions and the port area ecosystem synergizing with the increasing fishermen's income and social harmony.