The objective of this reserach was to explore the socio-cultural context that underlying the defense of poor fishermen in Tanjung Tiram Village North Moramo District of South Konawe Regency. This research used qualitative approach that showed the poor fishermen were not in a vacuum world, but they were in a social habitat with full of values and norms that made as a reference to do an action. The socio-cultural context includes the economic resources aspect, the cultural aspect, and the structural aspect that gave feature toward thepoor fishermen’s defense. The cconomic resources aspect was about the ownership and control of limited production tools, low education and skills, and also the condition of coastal natural resources around the village that wasdeclining. The cultural aspect was about habitual and lifestyle of fishermen society which highly depend on natural condition, values in going to the sea which put togetherness and harmony of nature rather than the encouragement of success in economic and life orientation of fishermen society who prioritized the safety than looking for benefit. The structural aspect was about an imbalance of economic access which gave rise the feature of vertical relationship between poor and wealthy fishermen, exploitative patron-client relationship, and some inadequate government policies. The socio-cultural context of fishermen with all various aspects gave the feature to the social practices of fishermen who were more reactive as a consequence of helplessness. This condition producedthe structure which more suppressing and debilitating than giving opportunities or empowering fishermen.