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Fishing ban in Riau river to protect forests
Forbidden river: Local leaders release young fish in the Tapi River, Petai village, Singingi Hilir district, Kuantan Singingi regency, Riau
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span class="caption">Forbidden river: Local leaders release young fish in the Tapi River, Petai village, Singingi Hilir district, Kuantan Singingi regency, Riau. A fishing ban has been placed on the part of the river in which the fish were released in hopes that the fish can be harvested next year to finance the village. JP/Rizal Harahap
As part of an environmental protection campaign, the local administration and traditional leaders of a village in Singingi Hilir district in Kuantan Singingi in Riau has announced a ban on fishing in a section of the Tapi River.
The restricted area was inaugurated last week after lengthy preparations and discussions that took place over the past two years.
During the inauguration, around 6,000 young catfish and carp were released in the restricted area. Leaders warned that the fish must not be caught for at least a year.
Tapi River is a natural boundary separating Petai village and the Rimbang Baling Wildlife Refuge.
The village administration and local traditional leaders have designated the river section as a restricted area, marked by ropes over the river and a warning sign.
The 500-meter long section of the river was picked as it has a number of deep pools which are suitable for breeding fish.
Hundreds of villagers and dozens of village chiefs from Kuantan Singingi and Singingi districts attended the ceremony.
'Village chiefs have been specifically invited so they can tell their residents about the fishing ban in the restricted area,' said Petai village chief Ahyu Ervan, during the inauguration at the Tiger Protection Unit (TPU) camp, owned by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Petai village.
Tapi River is a popular destination for anglers from surrounding villages lured by its substantial fish resources. Its waters are also particularly clear, unlike most of the rivers in Kuantan Sengingi, which are murky from illegal
gold mining.
A serious fine will be imposed on anyone caught fishing in the area. Village administration staff and customary and community leaders will be fined Rp 2 million (US$150) and residents will be fined Rp 1 million each if they are caught fishing in the area.
'Those who report the theft will get a 25 percent bounty from the fines, while the remainder will be used for area maintenance. The incentives are expected to encourage residents to actively participate in overseeing the area,' said Ervan.
If an offender refuses to pay the fine, the community will impose social sanctions against the person.
Singingi district head Zulkaneri expressed the hope that the restricted river section ' the first in the district, would be followed by other villages, so the population of the local fish species could be preserved.
The Rimbang Baling forest, measuring 136,000 hectares, spans Riau and West Sumatra provinces. In Riau, the conservation area is included in the administrative territory of Kuantan Singingi and Kampar regencies.
Rimbang Baling is a natural habitat of various rare and protected animals, such as deer, Sumatran jungle goats and Sumatran tigers.
The Sumatran tiger, which is threatened with extinction, has been listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) red list. Its population in the wild is estimated at no more than 500 individuals.
A study conducted by the WWF and the Forestry Ministry has found that the population of the Sumatran tiger in Rimbang Baling has the potential to breed further if the conservation area is managed well.
As the Rimbang Baling forest is continuously under threat, the WWF and local Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) have conducted routine foot patrols tracing every corner of the Rimbang Baling forest to monitor animals and drive away illegal loggers.
'This is a daunting task, that's why the local community must be involved as they have the biggest share in forest conservation. Conservation is impossible without community involvement,' said TPU WWF Riau Program coordinator Osmantri.
'Petai villagers actually have the local wisdom to protect the river and its ecosystem. However, the tradition has gradually faded as settlements, which were earlier located near the river, have been abandoned and residents have moved to areas along the Trans Sumatra Highway as they have better access to trade and education,' he added.
