Fishermen Need Alignment

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

The fish caught in the Karimata Strait are transported by cart to be brought to a refrigerated warehouse in the Muara Angke Port area, North Jakarta, Sunday (4/10/2020).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS —People in the traditional fishing business are hoping for government support to protect their interests and improve their welfare. Without an affirmative policy, fishermen who use simple fishing gear will not be able to compete with large vessels using trawling equipment and cantrang (seine nets).

The secretary-general of the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association (KNTI), Iin Rohimin, said last week that the use of cantrang and trawling equipment had become increasingly out of control over the past year and made small fishermen suffer. Large vessels using trawling equipment and cantrang often throw nets into the shallow waters where small-scale fishing businesses operate, hurting the latter’s catches.

"Not only is it detrimental to traditional fishermen, the marine ecosystem is also affected. Cantrang, trawls and other fishing gear that damage the environment must be prohibited, no bargaining," he said.

Also read: Double Plight of Small Fishermen

Achmad Dany, 23, a small fisherman from Gedongmulyo village, Lasem district, Rembang, Central Java, also hopes that the government will regulate boats with trawling equipment and cantrang so that small fishermen like himself can go to sea in peace and produce results.

Not only domestic trawlers, fishermen have also been disturbed by large foreign trawlers that have operated in Indonesian waters in the past year.

Also read: Just be a Minister, not a Fisherman

KOMPAS/ADITYA PUTRA PERDANA

A number of workers unloaded bilis fish from the fishing vessels at the Klidang Lor Fish Auction Place, Batang Regency, Central Java, (Friday (9/3/2018).

Andahar, 42, a small fisherman in Anambas, Riau Islands, said the entry of foreign fishing boats into the waters where small fishermen earn a living is very detrimental to him and his colleagues, who only use 2-gross ton (GT) boats and fishing lines.

"Almost every time we go out to sea, we encounter foreign fishing boats in Anambas waters," he said. According to him, most of the foreign fishing vessels are from Vietnam.

The chairman of the Fishermen Alliance of Natuna in Riau Islands, Hendri, said foreign trawlers were now flocking to the North Natuna Sea. "We feel that foreign fishing boats are ignored. Indeed, there were arrest operations several times, but the intensity was much less than in the past. Fishermen have observed that the number of foreign vessels is gradually increasing," said Hendri.

Also read: Fishermen Await Commitment Realization

The head of the Center for the Study of Maritime Development and Maritime Civilization, Suhana, said the legalization of cantrang and trawling equipment was a policy that did not favor small and traditional fishermen. "Without taking sides, small fishermen will always lose and fish resources tend to be controlled by large ships owned by corporations," said Suhana.

Reflagged ships

Due to various violations, all permits for ex-foreign vessels were revoked in 2015. Why will they be allowed again?

Suhana also questioned the plan of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry to allow formerly foreign-flagged vessels to operate under the Indonesian flag, arguing that, based on an evaluation by Task Force 115 in 2015, many of these vessels were proven to have been used for illegal fishing, transshipment, tax evasion, double flags and other illicit activity.

"Due to various violations, all permits for ex-foreign vessels were revoked in 2015. Why will they be allowed again?" he asked.

Also read: It’s Time to Develop the Marine Industry

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

Fishermen repair nets in Tambaklorok, Semarang City, Central Java, (20/1/2020)

Meanwhile, related to the return of rampant illegal fishing by foreign vessels, Suhana said that this was because the government no longer imposes a penalty in the form of sinking the ships. In fact, the sinking of the ships is proven to have a deterrent effect.

The ministry’s acting capture fisheries director general, Mohammad Zaini, said supervision of cantrang operations and the like would be carried out, among other means, by requiring cantrang ships and the like to use a ship monitoring system. The use of cantrang should not interfere with the passive fishing gear of the small fishermen. Cantrang ships that violate fishing zones will be subject to criminal sanctions in accordance with the Job Creation Law.

Also read: Granting Access to Foreign Ships Threatens Fisheries

With regard to the permission of the operations of foreign-made ships, Zaini noted that there was a fundamental difference between foreign-made ships and foreign ships. Foreign-made ships are produced abroad but owned by Indonesians and registered in the country, so they have the Indonesian flag. Meanwhile, foreign vessels are owned by foreigners and registered in their countries of origin.

"We cannot ban foreign-made ships. The ships are purchased from abroad, owned by domestic business actors and employing Indonesian crew members. Why should they be prohibited? Indeed, [the permit issuance] must be tightened," he said.

On the other hand, said Zaini, his party would investigate foreign-made ship purchase transactions. "The ship buyer\'s account will be traced. If there is no proof of transfer of purchase of foreign-made vessels, it is highly likely that they belong to the foreign investors who entrust the ships to them,” said Zaini. ( FLO/ SHR/ ERK/ FRN/LKT/ NDU/ DKA)