Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry Susi Pudjiastuti had good intentions when she banned the use of modified trawl nets, locally known as cantrang, in 2015.

Made with a finer mesh, cantrang may effectively catch large fish, but they also trap fish spawn that is important for habitat sustainability.

Subsequent controversy and protests had put the ban on hold until late last year.

Opponents of the cantrang ban argue that while the policy is good for marine ecosystems in the world’s largest archipelago, it poses a threat to the nation’s fishermen.

This is said to be particularly true in Central Java, where the cantrang is the most popular and affordable fishing tool.

To appease the affected fishermen, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo instructed Susi on Wednesday to allow the use of these particular nets in the country’s second most populous province until the end of this year.

However, expressing his apparent exhaustion over recurrent disagreement on the ban, Jokowi on Thursday told officials from the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry to form a more far-reaching vision for the industry, instead of repeatedly struggling with the same problems.

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