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Grouper cultivators demand compensation for dead fish

Hundreds of grouper cultivators, affiliated with the Lampung Grouper Communication Forum (Fokkel), have reported the Panjang branch of state-run port operator PT Pelindo to the Lampung Police for failing to address pollution in Lampung Bay

Oyos Saroso H.N (The Jakarta Post)
Bandarlampung
Thu, January 10, 2013

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Grouper cultivators demand compensation for dead fish

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undreds of grouper cultivators, affiliated with the Lampung Grouper Communication Forum (Fokkel), have reported the Panjang branch of state-run port operator PT Pelindo to the Lampung Police for failing to address pollution in Lampung Bay.

The fish farmers demanded the Panjang branch of PT Pelindo be held responsible for the deaths of all their fish cultivated in floating nets off Hanura Beach in Pesawaran regency.

Tons of grouper and other fish in Lampung Bay have died since December last year. The deaths were allegedly caused by a red algae boom in Lampung Bay over the past two weeks that occurred after waste was dumped into the sea.

“We are not protesting the coastal dredging, but Pelindo did not coordinate with us prior to dumping the waste into the sea. It should not have dumped the dredging sediment near our floating nets,” said Fokkel leader Mulia Bangun Sitepu on Wednesday.

Sitepu added the area was home to around 3,000 floating nets used to cultivate grouper that were owned by more than 100 entrepreneurs. The grouper cultivation complex has thus far served as a national program model and the fish are among Lampung’s primary exports.

“Waste from coastal dredging is dumped around 12 kilometers from Panjang Port, or around Condong and Tegal Islands and Hanura Beach. Condong and Tegal Islands and Hanura Beach are very close to the grouper cultivation complex. The waste has triggered the presence of red algae and has caused all of our fish to die,” he said.

Fokkel lawyer Sopian Sitepu said the fish cultivators had suffered losses of up to Rp 8 billion (US$821,352) from the pollution.

“The amount is just based on the value of the dead fish, and excludes losses from restarting breeding and fish-raising activities after the incident. We also will not be able to export grouper this year due to the incident,” Sopian said.

According to him, the Panjang branch PT Pelindo has breached the guidelines on waste dumping, such as those found in Transportation Ministerial Decree No. 52/2011 on dredging and reclamation.

“The decree stipulates that several areas are prohibited from being used to dump sediment from coastal dredging, including shipping lanes, conservation areas, natural reserves, national parks, coral reefs, mangrove swamps, fish farming areas and residential areas. However, the waste was dumped in waters around the fish cultivation area,” Sopian said.

PT Pelindo corporate secretary Yan Budi Santoso said the Panjang branch of PT Pelindo had apparently dredged the coast around the port since November last year as part of revitalization efforts to transform the Panjang Port into an international port.

“We have temporarily suspended dredging to appease residents, especially fish cultivators in Lampung Bay, so the relevant agencies are able to resolve the issue and seek the best solution,” Yan said.

He added the dredging project to deepen the shipping lane was aimed at ensuring shipping safety.

“The sedimentation around the port has caused several points to become shallow. The dredging is aimed at facilitating consignment of goods along with the use of larger vessels to increase cost efficiency in Lampung and surrounding areas,” he said.

Yan added PT Pelindo had obtained an environmental permit to dredge the area from the Bandarlampung mayor and the Transportation Ministry.

According to Yan, lab analyses in 2011 and 2012 — before dredging began — found heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead in sediment samples from a number of locations, but found they were not hazardous and were not categorized as waste.

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