Amidst the intensive narratives surrounding the blue economy and the digitalization of the maritime sector, the reality on the ground shows a rather sharp technological gap. The majority of lift net fishermen on the coasts of the Madura Strait and the Java Sea still rely on kerosene- or LPG-powered Petromax lamps as the primary tool to attract fish.
Dependency on this conventional technology is not just a matter of efficiency, but also an increasingly heavy economic burden. In addition to fuel costs that continue to erode net income, the use of Petromax also triggers emission pollution and is less effective in attracting fish because the light produced tends to scatter and is not focused on the target.
A study by a team from Universitas Brawijaya in 2025 provides a solution through the innovation of underwater Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights with a green spectrum (520–540 nanometers). Trial results in the waters of Pasuruan prove that this technology is able to increase catch volume by up to 80 percent, with an average biomass reaching 28.52 kilograms per trip, compared to Petromax which only yielded 15.88 kilograms.
The effectiveness of the green LED lies in its ability to adapt to the photoreceptor sensitivity of small pelagic fish such as mackerel and yellowstripe scad. Green light is proven to gather schools of fish faster—in just 90 minutes—and retain them in the catch area with a density level above 90 percent until the net is hauled.
Economically, switching to LED technology offers energy efficiency of up to 80 percent. This directly eases the operational cost burden of fishermen amidst fluctuating fuel prices. Furthermore, the use of more targeted underwater lights also helps suppress unwanted bycatch, making fishing practices more environmentally friendly.
To realize this transformation, modernization must not be limited to the distribution of aid packages. The government needs to encourage the downstreaming of research by involving local manufacturing industries so that the equipment remains affordable, provide subsidy schemes redirected into technology investment capital, and offer technical assistance so that fishermen can operate the devices independently and sustainably.
