Lurking Dangers of Illegal Gold Mining on Buru Island

From research in 2021, illegal gold mining on Mount Botak, Buru Island, Maluku, caused the mercury content in the sediment of a number of rivers to exceed the threshold. Methylmercury in residents' hair is also the same.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Bahaya Mengintai dari Penambangan Emas Ilegal di Pulau Buru

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

A fisherman is preparing to catch fish at the estuary of Teluk Kayeli, in Teluk Kayeli District, Buru Regency, Maluku, on Wednesday (6/9/2023).

The sun was still high in the sky when Kirman (40) decided to steer his boat back to shore. The wind in the middle of the bay suddenly became strong. His catch from fishing since morning was also unsatisfactory. The fisherman from Kaki Air Village, Teluk Kayeli District, Buru Regency, Maluku, was forced to go home earlier than usual and only returned in the afternoon.

"Nowadays, catching only one bucket (20 kilograms) of belanak fish already brings joy. In the past, we could catch up to three buckets," he complained.

So many fish are present that Kirman describes how they often jump in front of his house, which is located among floating settlements. The fish seem to "surrender themselves" to be caught by the homeowner. It is not uncommon for Kirman and other Kaki Air fishermen to have to dispose of their catch as it cannot be absorbed by buyers.

"So, in a way, it was like we used to go down and get money from the sea," he said.

At that time, the variety and size of fish were diverse. He could catch a belanak fish weighing up to 1 kilogram (kg). Kirman also often caught tembang fish which are usually made into sardines. However, all of these luxuries came to an end after gold was discovered on Mount Botak located in the middle of Buru Island around 2011.

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> Fish Now "Su" Run Far Away, Displaced by Mines

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Portrait of houses in Kaki Air Village, Teluk Kayeli District, Buru Regency, Maluku, on Wednesday (6/9/2023). In the village with a population of about 700 residents, houses are built above sea level.

The discovery of gold has attracted illegal gold miners from all regions of the archipelago. Using simple tools, they cut through vegetation on hillsides and try to penetrate the earth's crust in search of the precious metal. Environmental damage is inevitable.

Furthermore, to process the soil material which is excavated by the miners to find gold, they use a heavy metal that is dangerous for living beings, namely mercury. The drums used for the processing are lined up along several rivers flowing from Mount Botak. Water is one of the essential components for this processing.

However, not only gold can be obtained from the processing process, there is also waste from the remaining processing results that contain mercury and other heavy metals, such as copper. This is what then adds to the damage to the environment.

The damage is becoming increasingly massive due to the flow of the river from Gunung Botak that empties into Teluk Kayeli. However, the bay is a place where fish lay their eggs and thrive. The bay is also a source of life for Kirman and many other fishermen on the bay's coast, especially in Kaki Air where the number of residents reaches 700 people. Belanak fish, which is used as Kaki Air's anchovy, is well-known all the way to Ambon, the capital of Maluku.

Also read: Tuna that are "Dead" in Our Seas

DOKUMEN HUMAS POLDA MALUKU

A gold processing site that uses drum machines to operate around the location of the Gunung Botak wild gold mine in Buru Island, Maluku, was raided by police on Thursday (4/4/2019). The processing method involves the use of mercury.

Clean water

Not only in fishing, the water in the estuary commonly consumed by the community can no longer be consumed. Since illegal gold mining activities, the water in the estuary has become turbid. Sediments caused by the absence of vegetation on Mount Botak, plus waste from gold processing, are suspected to have made the water in the estuary always brown in color.

As a consequence of the pollution, Kaki Air residents are forced to buy refillable 19 liter jugs for Rp 15,000 each, which is three times the price of jugs in Java.

"Every day I buy two gallons or Rp 30,000. If I need to wash clothes, I use rainwater," uttered Murniati (45), one of the residents of Kaki Air. However, the cost she spends is equivalent to the price of two kilograms of rice or her family's rice needs for two to three days."

Based on the research conducted by Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at Pattimura University, Yusthinus Male, in 2021, the level of mercury content in the sediment of the Patipulu River, one of the rivers that empties into Kayeli Bay, has reached 16 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), or 16 times the normal standard of mercury content in sediment, which is 1 mg/kg. Exceeding levels of mercury have also been found in other rivers, such as Anahoni and Waelata.

FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

Yusthinus Thobias Male

"The process of gold processing using trommels requires a lot of water, thus it is done in rivers, and the water that has been mixed with mercury or cyanide is discharged into the river. Mercury, which has a higher density than water, sinks to the bottom and accumulates in sediment, potentially damaging the body of water," said Male.

The accumulation of mercury in water has an impact on fishing conditions which, in turn, can disrupt the health of humans in the surrounding areas. Male explained that the mercury present in the body of water will be consumed by microbes, specifically sulfate-reducing bacteria. These microbes will consume the mercury, then excrete waste called methylmercury (MeHg).

Methylmercury is then consumed by phytoplankton, the basic microorganisms in the food chain in the waters. Phytoplankton that have been exposed to methylmercury are eaten by zooplankton, larger plankton that live by consuming other types of plankton. Zooplankton are also plankton consumed by small aquatic animals, such as shrimp and anchovies.

Small fish then become food for larger fish, and so on. It should be noted that methylmercury has a biomagnification property. This means that the amount of methylmercury will continue to increase as the food chain progresses, starting from phytoplankton to the fish served on our dining table.

Also read: The Future of Fish Barns is Threatened

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

Illegal gold mining area in Gunung Botak, Buru Island, Maluku, was raided on Tuesday (20/6/2023).

This is also the reason why high levels of methylmercury are usually found in apex predators in the food chain, such as barracudas and tuna fish.

Moreover, referring to Male's research from a year ago, mercury has already been found to have been distributed up to Teluk Kayeli. Mercury has also been found in marine biota.

Land pollution

Pollution does not only occur in water bodies, but also on land. With the recent discovery in Male in 2021, the level of mercury found in the former drumming soil area at the Patipulu River has reached 22 mg/kg of mercury, compared to the normal standard of 1 mg/kg. Various plants that are meant for consumption such as vegetables have been planted in this former drumming soil area.

As a result, the level of methylmercury content in the hair of residents in Kaiely Village in Teluk Kayeli District, Buru, has already exceeded normal limits. The writer is concerned that the lack of prevention and firm action by the government will have a negative impact on future residents. Besides health issues, economic effects also need to be taken into consideration. Mercury and cyanide problems potentially complicate efforts by the government to promote export-based fisheries, such as to America and Europe.

In history, methylmercury has been the cause of the emergence of "mysterious" diseases in Minamata, a city on the coast of Japan. In the 1950s, suddenly, thousands of residents died. Many of them also experienced nerve disturbances that caused loss of speech, walking ability, and even vision. Many pregnant women also had miscarriages.

After investigation, it was found that the methylmercury was actually from fertilizer waste disposed of by a fertilizer company, Chisso. Chisso began disposing waste containing methylmercury in the 1930s, or about 20 years before the residents were affected.

GOOGLE MAPS

Location map of Minamata, Japan

"The fish and vegetables are then consumed by the residents, causing the levels of methylmercury to increase. This is why the impact is only visible after several decades. The long-term losses cannot be compensated for with short-term benefits," he said.

Acting Head of Kaki Air Village, Rahmawati Dafrullah, hopes that mining activities at Gunung Botak can be properly managed to prevent further pollution of the river leading to Teluk Kayeli. This is crucial for the community's health, especially for those who rely on fishing as their livelihood.

“What if no one buys fish? "That means the beta (me) pu (have) people here are dying slowly," he said.

Also read: Customary Shields that Protect the Sea

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Rahmawati Dafrullah (51), Acting Village Head of Kaki Air, displayed dried fish that were being sun-dried in Kaki Air Village, Teluk Kayeli District, Buru Regency, Maluku, on Wednesday (6/9/2023).

The Head of the Maluku Maritime and Fisheries Agency, Erawan Asikin, acknowledged that illegal mining in Mount Botak could have an impact on the coast. His agency has coordinated with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to address the environmental impact.

The government and security forces have repeatedly attempted to close down the illegal gold mining in Gunung Botak. However, until now, the miners have always returned. A big threat undoubtedly looms over the health of the community and the future of fisheries in the waters of Pulau Buru.