Si Isa - Fish Buyer

Si Isa has been a fish buyer in Banunuajaya Village, Kulisusu for nearly 20 years. Starting in the octopus trade, she gradually expanded to selling pelagic and reef fishes from 50 fishers who regularly sell her their catch. She also sells kitchen essentials, fuel, and fishing equipment while raising her five children.

In recent years, changes in weather patterns have affected the fishing communities’ livelihoods. With an extended dry season and easterly winds arriving earlier than usual, the fishers can no longer use just their sail; they have to buy engines for motorboats instead. Si Isa earns more profit when the winds are strong; but while fish prices are higher, she has to increase her stocks to make up for the days when fishers cannot go out to sea. In 2018, she began augmenting her income by supplying spring water to the villagers.

Si Isa avoids the pop-up markets selling cheap goods, set up in her village to take advantage of when the village’s fishers catch more and earn more. She doesn’t want to indulge in wasteful consumerism. Instead, she saves money and practices financial planning, believing that women have to manage their income and debt so their families can survive the lean season.

This story was originally posted on Rare, from the story “How Women in Coastal Fisheries are Adapting to Climate Change”, by Yasmin Arquiza with contributions from Larissa Hotra, Eva Medianti, Angel Uson, and Ade Yuliani. Rare is a global leader in driving social change for people and nature. Learn more about them by visiting their website, https://rare.org/