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In Aceh's waters, conservationists lead high-speed chases
Under way: Sailors of Panglima Laot patrol the waters of the Banyak Islands in search of poachers
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Under way: Sailors of Panglima Laot patrol the waters of the Banyak Islands in search of poachers.
Abundant in fish, the Banyak Islands ' a group of 99 islets off the southwest coast of Singkil, Aceh ' have been a frequent target for poachers. At least until Panglima Laot ('Sea Commander'), a community-based maritime management institution, showed up.
One recent afternoon earlier in August, the islands were suddenly engulfed in mist and heavy rain. 'The weather is not currently hospitable for sailors,' said Antaruddin, who runs Panglima Laot on Balai Island.
Normally, bad weather prevails in the region from August to January.
While waiting to break the fast at the local boat terminal where he and his team usually gathered, Antaruddin showed a cell phone video recording of 16 minutes of a chase of a fish-bomber boat by Panglima Laot and a Singkil Police Sea and Air Police unit (Satpol Airud) interceptor boat.
Antaruddin, who recorded the incident from his team's boat, saw firsthand how the poachers swiftly turned their boat around, leaving the police vessel behind.
The police opened fire on the fleeing boat, forcing the poachers to give up.
'Only two of them were wounded,' Antaruddin said, adding that it was the first raid launched based on a tip from Panglima Laot on Balai Island.
Antaruddin said that he heard about the poachers from a boats of fishermen from Tapak Tuan, South Aceh. 'They told me from the sea that a fish-bomber boat was operating in the area of Bakongan, 36 nautical miles [67 kilometers] from Balai Island.'
He said that he asked the boat crew to keep watch. Eventually, they said that the poachers were in Banyak Islands waters and dropping explosives near Gosong Turok.
Taking to sea in a small patrol boat along with two Panglima Laot team members, Antaruddin led the chase ' with the support of two sailors from a local Navy base armed with rifles.
On their way, Antaruddin contacted Satpol Airud in Singkil for backup.
Over the two-hour chase, Antaruddin said he was worried that the poachers might toss their bombs at his boat. 'They ignored our warning shots, forcing us to aim at the people aboard, while we might also be running out of fuel.'
He continues. 'The police squad arrived just as the sailors had used up their two magazines of bullets,' added Antaruddin.
The poachers' boat, the KM Putri Intan, was finally stopped off Tambarat Island, only 18.52 km from Balai Island, and taken to Singkil Police headquarters.
Banyak Island Navy Base commandant Second Lieut. M. Arif Afandi confirmed Navy participation in the raid and justified their action. 'Maritime security is also our responsibility. Illegal fishing must never be tolerated, let alone the use of explosives, which damages marine organisms.'
The Navy, according to Arif, also cooperates with the local island community and helps Panglia Laot with its patrols.
Balai Island youth group chairman Azwardin echoed Arif's comments. 'The government can't work alone. This is the case with Panglima Laot and the Navy. Cooperation between these institutions is not easy, requiring a common vision. Fauna and Flora International - Indonesia Program [FFI] has helped us with the social network since 2010. Without FFI's facilitation we would not be so solid.'
Panglima Laot is more than high speed chases, he adds. 'We also help put up sea conservation boundary markers, map protected zones, and promote cooperation and communication with youtng people on the other islands of the archipelago.'
'Panglima Laot is set up by the relevant communities through deliberations to elect the most eligible person as chief, also called the panglima laot,' Azwardin said. 'Besides safeguarding island waters, he also determines fishing zones, protected zones, and forms his patrol team. He is responsible to the community and head of the village where Panglima Laot is located.'
Yan Junaidi, Aceh Singkil's Maritime and Fisheries Office program chief, said that FFI's work dovetailed with the regency, noting the FFI's scientific approach.
Rakhmat Dirgantara, FFI's senior marine officer in Aceh, said the Indonesian government is committed to develop 20 million hectares of sea conservation zones by 2020.
At first, FFI promoted Panglima Laot by Weh Island to promote marine conservation and ecotourism in 2005, boosting Sabang regency as a tourist destination and as a sea conservation development zone. 'Sabang now has 733 hectares of sea waters managed by the local community,' Rakhmat said.
'We're also encouraging the creation of similar zones in West Aceh, Southwest Aceh and South Aceh regencies,' said Rakhmat.
' Photos by Syafrizaldi
