ICT Utilization and Income Differences among Small-Scale Fishers in Coastal East Java

Information and communication technology (ICT) may help small-scale fishers access information and support fishing decisions, but its association with income needs to be examined while accounting for differences between users and non-users. This study examines factors associated with ICT use and estimates income differences among 500 small-scale fishers in Malang, Trenggalek, and Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia, in 2024. Sample allocation across the three regencies followed proportional stratified sampling, while respondent eligibility was based on the purposive criterion of operating a fishing vessel below 5 gross tonnage (GT). Probit regression was used to identify factors associated with ICT use, while Propensity Score Matching (PSM) estimated the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT), comparing ICT users (treatment group) with non-users (control group). Attitude, subjective norms, education, access to credit, and savings were statistically significant at the 5% level, while fishing-trip duration and distance to the fishing port were significant at the 10% level. The estimated ATT was IDR 2,273,707.11 per fishing trip using nearest-neighbor matching and IDR 2,247,831.65 per fishing trip using kernel-based matching. These estimates depend on adequate common support, covariate balance, and the assumption that relevant factors influencing ICT use and income are captured by observed characteristics. Potential bias from unobserved factors may remain. The findings suggest that ICT use is associated with an estimated higher income among matched fishers, although potential bias from unobserved confounding cannot be ruled out. These findings also highlight the importance of digital infrastructure, digital literacy, and affordable access to technology.