Toxic waste keeps Banten fishermen ashore

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 12/11/2006 1:35 PM  |  Jakarta

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Banten

Suleman, 34, sat quietly on his boat, staring out to sea, ignoring the people around him.

He used to be a busy fisherman, working out of Cimarga village in Banten. No more.

""Toxic waste polluted the sea and killed the fish. We usually got 20 to 30 kilograms of fish a day, but in the past week we're considered lucky if we can bring home five kilos,"" he said.

Hundreds of fishermen living along the 12 kilometers of Talanca, Bagedur, Binuangeun and Malimping resort beaches have complained about the water pollution.

A layer of black sludge covers the surface of the Sunda Strait, discouraging fishermen from venturing on the water.

""This is not my own boat. I and three others rent it and we share the takings. The boat owner has banned us from going out to sea for a while as we could not pay him since our catch dropped drastically,"" Suleman told The Jakarta Post.

He said he had no idea how he was going to feed his wife and six children. The owner has forbidden him from taking the boat out until the black waste on the water has gone.

Suleman is one of around 800 fishermen who live in coastal villages in the area and earn between Rp 15,000 and Rp 30,000 a day. A night's catch of up to 30 kilograms is usually sold for between Rp 200,000 and Rp 300,000 at Binuangeun fish market.

""We have to pay Rp 150,000 to the owner everyday in boat rental, plus all operating costs. We share the remaining Rp 150,000 between the four of us,"" Suleman said.

The Binuangeun fish auction, which is usually packed with buyers and fishermen, was quiet Friday morning.

Many fishermen said their incomes had dropped by as much as 75 percent since late last month, forcing some of them to pawn their valuables to buy food.

Kang Aep, a fisherman from Binuangeun village, pawned his radio.

""Since the water is polluted, I have not gone out fishing. My wife and children need to eat but I don't have the money. There is no other way, I have to pawn this,"" said Kang, who until recently was a farmer, until the extended drought forced him to change occupations.

He said many fishermen had been stopped from going to see by boat owners, who had ordered their vessels be tied up.

Banten Water Police chief Comr. M. Yassin said the pollution was a problem.

""We received reports about it on November 29 and we've combed the coast to take samples,"" he said, adding that officers had found a plate of dry oil on the beach.

He said he believed ships passing through the Sunda Strait were to blame, as they are alleged to dispose of their oil residue in the sea.

""We are holding an investigation into this case. We have taken samples to be examined and coordinated with the Banten Naval Base to conduct close monitoring in the waters,"" Yassin said.

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