Reclaiming the Living Space of Fisherwomen: Anging Mammiri Women's Solidarity (SP)

Fisherwomen on the coast of Makassar City face serious threats to their living space and livelihoods due to the construction of the Makassar New Port (MNP). This reclamation project has filled in areas managed by fisherwomen and coastal communities without their consent, depriving them of access to traditional fishing spaces. As a result, fisherwomen and coastal communities have lost the economic net that has supported their lives.

Since the MNP development activities, the economic income of traditional fishermen and coastal women has plummeted drastically. If previously the catch could reach Rp150.000 to Rp500.000 per day, after the reclamation they only get around Rp25.000 per day, and often do not produce anything.

The solutions offered are far from expectations. CSR programs such as savings and loan cooperatives, mass circumcisions, pier construction, and money exchange waste programs have failed to address the fundamental problems faced by traditional fishermen and coastal women. On the contrary, these programs have the potential to trigger divisions within the community.

In the midst of these difficulties, Solidaritas Perempuan (SP) Anging Mammiri began economic recovery steps with a solidarity economy approach for Fisherwomen. With the support of the Nusantara Fund Direct Funding, SPAM held training on seafood processing for fisherwomen in Tallo, Cambaya, and Buloa Sub-districts.

Through the training, fisherwomen learn to process local catches into value-added products such as crab sauce, fish floss, seaweed chips, and clam sauce. Processing not only extends the shelf life of seafood and increases its selling value, but also opens up the potential for new access to markets.

In addition to technical skills, training participants are also introduced to the principles of solidarity economy. This approach differentiates it from the market economy which tends to be competitive and exploitative. Through a joint learning forum, women are invited to reflect on their role in the community and the economic potential that can be built from below, little by little releasing dependence on formal economic structures that are often unequal and do not favor women.

As part of collective strengthening, SP Anging Mammiri also facilitates the formation of women's cooperatives. Baine Sikamaseang. The meaning of the name of this cooperative is Women Loving Women, this is the solidarity economy model that we want to build, where women strengthen each other and build solidarity networks amidst the various socio-economic challenges and pressures that will certainly continue to be faced.

The Baine Sikamaseang Cooperative is a forum for fisherwomen to strengthen their bargaining position in the supply chain and ensure that collective business results are managed fairly and sustainably. Of the 87 women involved in the training, 20 of them have now become cooperative administrators, leading the production process and strengthening the marketing network. The Baine Sikamaseang Cooperative now produces and markets various processed seafood products, one of which is crab and mussel chili sauce products under the brand Coastal Sambal, the creative result of women's struggles from Tallo and Cambaya.