Asian Journal of Social and Humanities
Vol. 4 No. 9 (2026): Asian Journal of Social and Humanities

A Critical Criminological Study of Destructive Fishing Crimes in The Serutbar Conservation Area

Charly Timothy Hahury (Universitas Pattimura, Indonesia)
Yanti Amelia Lewerissa (Universitas Pattimura, Indonesia)
J.E. Latupeirissa (Universitas Pattimura, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
17 Jun 2026

Abstract

Maluku Province, as one of the archipelagos with the greatest potential for marine resources in Indonesia, is vulnerable to the threat of maritime crime, particularly destructive fishing practices (the use of fish bombs and poison), including those occurring in the Serutbar Conservation Area. This study aims to analyze destructive fishing crimes in the Serutbar Conservation Area not only as a phenomenon of individual deviance (fishermen) but also as a form of structural and ecological injustice. Using a critical criminology approach, this study examines criminogenic factors such as structural poverty, the marginalization of traditional fishermen, the power relations between financiers (cukong) and perpetrators in the field, and the suboptimal effectiveness of current positive law in prosecuting intellectual actors. The results of the study indicate that destructive fishing practices in the Serutbar Conservation Area are rooted in the economic pressures of coastal communities caused by limited fishing space and lack of access to environmentally friendly technology, which are then exploited by organized crime syndicates. From a critical criminology perspective, repressive law enforcement that targets only the main perpetrators (small-scale fishermen) has proven ineffective in providing a deterrent effect and ignores the massive damage to the ecosystem. Therefore, a reconstruction of criminal law policy is needed that combines prevention, criminalization of corporate intellectual actors, and a restorative justice approach that focuses on environmental restoration and alternative economic empowerment for coastal communities in Maluku, particularly those living around the Serutbar Conservation Area.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

jsh

Publisher

Subject

Decision Sciences, Operations Research & Management Earth & Planetary Sciences Environmental Science Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

Asian Journal of Social and Humanities is a scientific journal in the form of research and can be accessed openly. This journal is published once bimonthly by Beritrust Publisher. Asian Journal of Social and Humanities provides a means for ongoing discussion of relevant issues that fall within the ...