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National scene: More budget spending for local fisherfolk
JAKARTA: At least 10 percent of the budget of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry in 2016 will be earmarked for projects that would benefit local fisherfolk, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said
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AKARTA: At least 10 percent of the budget of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry in 2016 will be earmarked for projects that would benefit local fisherfolk, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said.
'We have a plan to allocate 10 percent of the budget for improving the livelihood of fisherfolk in the country next year,' Susi said as quoted by Antara news agency on Friday.
Susi said the funding would help traditional fishermen who were struggling to make ends meet due to depleted fish stocks, lack of equipment and a poor supply chain.
The Indonesian Fishermen's Association (KNTI) this week complained that its members were struggling to get fuel for their boats.
'We are facing problems with the supply of oil for traditional fisherfolk [...] and that has prevented us fishing in the nation's waters,' KNTI chief of legal affairs Marthin Hadiwinata said on Thursday.
Marthin said that places like Tarakan in North Kalimantan and Tanjung Balai in North Sumatra were among several regions where the fishermen faced difficulties in obtaining fuel for fishing.
He said that in Tarakan and Tanjungbalai fuel cost Rp 7.5 thousand per liter and was only available in limited amounts.
He said that the fleet of local fisherman consisted mostly of small boats and had to carry the heavy burden of supplying food that made up 80 percent of the country's protein intake.
