MAMUJU, Formosa News — Digital technology is beginning to play a meaningful role in the livelihoods of fishermen in Sumare Village, Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi. A 2026 article by Cahaya Anggrainie, Femiliani Novitasari, Dewi Febriani Hamjan, and Adi Zulkarnaen, affiliated with Muhammadiyah University of Mamuju and Makassar State University, reports a positive and statistically significant relationship between digital technology use and fishermen’s income. The analysis shows that digital technology accounts for 36.8 percent of the variation in fishermen’s income in the study.
The research was conducted in February and March 2026 among fishermen in the coastal area of Sumare Village. Its findings highlight how social media and online marketplaces can become additional channels for marketing fishery products, particularly in coastal communities where access to markets and digital infrastructure remains developing.
Digitalization Reaches the Coastal Economy
Sumare Village is a coastal community where fishing remains an important source of livelihood. Fishermen’s income can fluctuate depending on weather, fishing seasons, fish prices, access to resources, and market conditions.
The article explains that traditional marketing arrangements can limit fishermen’s direct access to consumers. Digital platforms offer another possibility by allowing fishermen to promote their catches and communicate with potential buyers through online channels.
Platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, Shopee, and Tokopedia can serve different functions, from communicating with customers to promoting and selling fishery products. Digital access can also provide fishermen with more information about market prices and create opportunities to reach customers beyond their immediate surroundings.
For small-scale fishermen, this shift is significant because wider market access can potentially reduce dependence on a single marketing channel.
However, the researchers emphasize that the benefits of digital technology are not automatic. Digital literacy, marketing skills, and reliable internet connectivity all influence how effectively fishermen can use digital platforms.
30 Fishermen Took Part in the Research
The study used a quantitative survey involving 30 active fishermen in Sumare Village.
The total population identified by the researchers consisted of 93 active fishermen, including 42 punggawa fishermen and 51 sawi fishermen. Thirty respondents were selected for the survey using purposive sampling. Information was collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and structured questionnaires using a five-point scale.
The researchers examined two main variables: the use of digital technology in fish marketing and fishermen’s income.
The data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression to determine the relationship between digital technology use and income. The statistical instruments used in the research also passed validity and reliability testing.
Digital Technology Use Remains Moderate
The research found that the overall use of digital technology among fishermen in Sumare Village remains at a moderate level, with an average score of 15.53 out of 25.
WhatsApp and Facebook were the platforms most commonly used by respondents, while TikTok and Shopee were used less frequently.
The characteristics of the respondents provide additional context. Among the 30 fishermen surveyed, 40 percent were over 40 years old, while 30 percent were between 30 and 40 years old and another 30 percent were under 30.
Education levels also varied. Half of the respondents had completed elementary school, 30 percent had completed junior high school, 10 percent had completed senior high school or vocational school, and another 10 percent had not completed elementary education.
These characteristics matter because digital adoption depends not only on access to devices and internet connections but also on the ability to understand and use digital services effectively.
Digital Technology Explains 36.8 Percent of Income Variation
The central finding comes from the statistical analysis.
The regression model produced the equation Y = 5.847 + 0.536X. The positive coefficient indicates that higher use of digital technology was associated with higher fishermen’s income within the model.
The correlation value was 0.607, indicating a positive relationship between the two variables. More importantly, the R² value was 0.368, meaning digital technology use explained 36.8 percent of the variation in fishermen’s income.
The statistical test also showed a significant result. The calculated t value was 4.036, compared with a table value of 2.048, while the significance level was 0.000, below the 0.05 threshold. Based on these results, the researchers concluded that digital technology use had a positive and significant effect on fishermen’s income in Sumare Village.
The researchers also make clear that digital technology is not the only factor affecting income. Weather conditions, fishing seasons, fish prices, fuel availability, business capital, experience, customer networks, and access to natural resources can all influence fishermen’s earnings.
From Social Media to Market Access
According to Cahaya Anggrainie, Femiliani Novitasari, Dewi Febriani Hamjan, and Adi Zulkarnaen, the results demonstrate that digital technology can provide fishermen with additional opportunities to promote their products and reach wider markets.
The authors emphasize that stronger results can be achieved when digital technology adoption is accompanied by digital literacy, appropriate marketing strategies, and adequate internet infrastructure.
This distinction is important. Digitalization is not simply about owning a smartphone or maintaining a social media account. Fishermen also need practical skills to present their products, communicate with buyers, manage transactions, and use online marketplaces effectively.
The study’s findings suggest that the digital transition in Sumare is still developing. The moderate technology-use score indicates that some fishermen have already adopted digital platforms, but intensive digital marketing has not yet become widespread.
Strengthening Digital Skills Could Expand Opportunities
The research recommends continued efforts to improve digital capabilities among fishermen in Sumare Village.
The authors specifically recommend ongoing digital literacy training, including the use of marketplaces such as Shopee and Tokopedia and the development of promotional content through TikTok. They also highlight the importance of improving internet infrastructure in the coastal area.
For local governments and related organizations, the findings provide a basis for developing digitalization programs that combine infrastructure development with practical training.
For fishermen, digital platforms can become an additional marketing channel that complements existing practices rather than replacing them entirely.
The broader message from the research is straightforward: digital technology can contribute to better income opportunities for fishermen, but its impact becomes stronger when technology access is combined with skills, connectivity, and effective marketing practices.
For coastal communities such as Sumare Village, this combination could help connect local fishery products with a wider customer base while supporting the gradual development of a more digitally connected fisheries economy.
Author Profile
Cahaya Anggrainie, Femiliani Novitasari, and Dewi Febriani Hamjan are affiliated with the Department of Fishery Products Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Muhammadiyah University of Mamuju. Adi Zulkarnaen is affiliated with the Department of Development Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Makassar State University. Their article covers digital technology, fisheries marketing, fishermen’s income, and the economic development of coastal communities.
Research Source
Article Title: Analysis of the Impact of Digital Technology on Fishermen’s Income in Sumare Village, Mamuju Regency
Authors: Cahaya Anggrainie, Femiliani Novitasari, Dewi Febriani Hamjan, Adi Zulkarnaen
Affiliations: Muhammadiyah University of Mamuju and Makassar State University
Journal: International Journal of Finance and Business Management (IJFBM)
Publication Year: 2026
Volume: 4, No. 3
Pages: 225–238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijfbm.v4i3.3
Journal Website: https://journalijfbm.my.id/index.php/ijfbm/index
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