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Jokowi calls on fishermen to stop using cantrang
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Fishermen try out gill nets in place of cantrang, which has been identified as being unsustainable and not environmentally friendly. (tribunnews.com/Rival Almanaf)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called on Indonesian fishermen to stop using cantrang (seine nets) in a bid to promote sustainable fishing habits.
Jokowi welcomed hundreds of fishermen from various provinces at the State Palace on Tuesday, during which he raised concerns about the use of cantrang and trawl nets, which damages coral reefs and seabed ecosystems.
“Fishermen must understand the importance of switching to environmentally friendly fishing equipment or otherwise we all lose,” he said.
A ministerial regulation issued in 2015 banned the use of all types of trawl and seine nets. The prohibition initially commenced on Jan. 1 this year. However, fishermen staged protests claiming that it would reduce their income.
Following the protests, the government decided to set up a transitional period during which the fishermen must gradually switch to more environmentally friendly equipment.
The government assisted them with bank loans to purchase the new equipment.
“[The government] doesn’t want to disrupt or obstruct [fishing activities], but fishermen must understand that [switching to the new equipment] is for their sake as well,” Jokowi said.
Fishermen use cantrang to reach the seabed, where it sweeps up marine life using a fine mesh. As a consequence, experts say, fish spawn, which are important for the habitat’s sustainability, have also been caught.
Jokowi went on to tell a story about local fishermen he met during a working visit to Pangandaran, West Java, who said they now struggled to catch fish, including white pomfret and snapper, because the fish stocks were no longer as abundant as it used to be.
“Switching to environmentally friendly equipment will increase fish stocks in our ocean. So, don’t think about the short-term goal only, we still have children and grandchildren [to feed],” he said. (ahw)
