THE ROLE OF PUBLIC SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN IMPROVING THE WELFARE OF FISHERMEN IN EAST LUWU REGENCY WITH COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT MEDIATION

This study aims to analyze the role of public services and technological innovation in improving the welfare of fishermen in East Luwu Regency with community empowerment as an intervening variable. This study uses a quantitative approach with the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method to test the relationship between the variables involved. The results of the study show that public services have a significant positive influence on the welfare of fishermen both directly and through community empowerment. On the other hand, technological innovations do not have a significant influence on the welfare of fishermen or community empowerment. Community empowerment was found to have a significant mediating role between public services and fishermen's welfare. However, the mediation by community empowerment between technological innovation and fisherman welfare is not significant, showing that technology implementation in the fisheries sector still faces various challenges. This study recommends that the government should focus more on improving the quality of public services and community empowerment programs to support the welfare of fishermen.