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Govt bans ‘cantrang’, Central Java raises concern
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Preserving environment: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti talks to Central Java fishermen after she handed over environmentally friendly fishing equipment in Semarang on Sept.20. (Antara/Aji Styawan)
W
ith their livelihoods set to face a big blow, fisherfolk from the northern beach area of Central Java protested the government’s move to ban the much criticized use of cantrang (seine net).
A full ban on cantrang is a major hit to the fishermen, who are worried the ban will lead to a decline in their sea harvests.
Indonesia Fishermen Alliance (ANNI) chairman Riyono challenged Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti to carry out an independent assessment on the impact of the use of cantrang, which is considered harmful to the environment.
“If Bu Susi is certain that her policy [to ban cantrang] is right, she should be brave and accept our challenge to carry out an independent assessment. We, the fishermen, think the cantrang ban is wrong,” he told The Jakarta Post in Semarang on Friday.
In Central Java, 250,000 families depend on fishing for their livelihoods, according to ANNI data. Once the ban takes effect, around 1,000 cantrang boats will be idle. This will bring economic difficulties to boat crew members and other jobs related to sea fishing activities, the association says.
“We say cantrang does not damage the environment. All fishing equipment has the potential to damage the environment. The cantrang ban has been decided unilaterally by the ministry. We [the fishermen] were not involved in the discussion of the policy,” said Riyono.
He was speaking in response to Susi, who asserted on Wednesday that there would be no more extensions of cantrang-use permits for fishermen in the northern beach area of Central Java.
