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rolonged bad weather in Jakarta and its surrounding areas has increased the threat of poverty for fishermen in Banten.

Local fishermen unable to head to sea are reportedly falling deeper into debt to meet their daily needs. Village fish auctions (TPI) have turned into quiet places as there are very few catches to be sold.

The situation is dire as many fishermen have begun selling their household goods to meet their daily needs, while other have been trapped by loan shark obligations.

“The unfriendly weather has been here for almost four months, and it is too risky to go to sea,” 48-year-old fisherman Ajijan recently told The Jakarta Post.

The father of six usually leaves the fishing village of Sukahati on the northern coast of Tangerang regency in the afternoon and returns in the morning with his haul.

“Now I really have no idea how I am going to feed my family because I have nothing to sell,” he said, adding that his docking fees continued to cost him Rp 500,000 (US$55.4) each month.

Some of his fellow fishermen were seen tending to their boat engines while others were busy repairing nets.

At Cituis fishing village in Pakuhaji district, Asmarmin, a father of five, was spotted carrying his
14-inch television set to the local pawn shop.

“We have to pay the boat rental fee of Rp 250,000 everyday. We share the remaining Rp 150,000 of income between five of us,” he said. Asmarmin rents a boat together with fellow fishermen.

Ujang from Tanjung Anom fishing village in Mauk district said he and other fishermen had been suffering through the bad weather. “We don’t know how to earn money while waiting for the weather to return to normal,” said the 40-year-old man, adding that the local administration had yet to provide any assistance.

Fishermen living along the 51-kilometer coastline in Tangerang regency earn between Rp 10,000 and Rp 30,000 a day. A night’s catch is usually sold for between Rp 20,000 and Rp 50,000 per kilogram at the local fish market.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned that intense rainfall and strong winds would continue throughout Indonesia.

Banten Maritime and Fishery Agency chief Suyitno said that almost 70 percent of 28,000 fishermen living in the province were struggling financially due to the effects of prolonged bad weather. He admitted that the local administration and the central government had not distributed any assistance to help fishermen because the agency is still collecting data on fishermen who need help.

Suyitno said the agency had asked the Public Welfare Ministry to distribute rice to fishermen in the affected areas. “TPI management in every villages will also help fishermen by using funds accumulated from previous sales,” he said.

Suyitno said the administration had not previously allocated budget funds because fishermen usually had side jobs. “It’s been a tradition for fishermen to take on other jobs whenever weather conditions prevent them from going to sea,” he said.