Atikah Nurhayati^1,, A.H. Purnomo²

Food is a basic human need. Many communities, including the fishing and aquaculture communities, are still facing difficulty in fulfilling food sufficiency. Fishing and aquaculture households attempt coping mechanisms independently, but they are constrained by a variety of factors and thus the government should come with a help to overcome constraints. This research aims to identify problems of food security in fishing and aquaculture communities, analyze determining factors, identify attempts undertaken by fishermen and aquaculture operators, and identify relevant government roles. This research used a case study approach in Pangandaran District, with data collected through surveys. Respondents were selected purposively: 10 fishermen, 10 aquaculture operators, 10 fish processors, 10 fish traders, and two West Java Provincial Marine Fisheries Service officials. Research was conducted in April – October 2019. Household food security of fishermen/aquaculture operators was measured using a Multiple Linear Regression. Based on this research was detected that 60% of households were categorized as secured, 15% less secured, 15% vulnerable, and 10% unsecured. Households of fishermen/aquaculture operators responded to these conditions with a variety of coping mechanisms: allocating parts of fish production for household consumption, selling some others to buy various kinds of food, and processing some others to get added value. These coping mechanisms were constrained by a number of factors, among which and the most important ones were knowledge and skills, capital, facilities and infrastructure, and market access. Government policy, therefore, should be focused on handling these constraining factors.

household coping mechanism, food security, fishing and aquaculture communities, pangandaran