The government appears to be taking a middle ground approach to end the controversy surrounding the use of environmentally damaging fishing equipment known as cantrang (seine net), accommodating pleas from fishermen in the Muslim-majority northern coast of Java.

The decision was made following a meeting between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and a number of fishermen from the northern coast of Java who traditionally use cantrang at the State Palace, as thousands of fishermen staged a rally at the National Monument complex across from the palace.

In the decision, the government allows the use of cantrang without a time restriction, Hadi Santoso, one of the fishermen who met with Jokowi, told the protesters after the meeting.

However, the decision was not made without conditions: procurement of new vessels equipped with cantrang are prohibited and the fishermen must gradually switch to new environmentally friendly fishing equipment.

The cantrang prohibition initially commenced on Jan. 1.

The government also agreed to provide bank loans to cantrang fishermen who agree to gradually switch to new fishing equipment.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, who also attended the meeting, told protesters to respect the decision, saying the government would help those interested in loan assistance on the condition that they agreed to switch to new fishing equipment.

“Please honor this compromise,” Susi added.

The abrupt decision came as Jokowi, in what analysts say was part of his efforts to strengthen his reelection bid in 2019, installed on Wednesday a number of new ministers in his Cabinet.

“You want to protect Pak Jokowi, don’t you? If you remain obstinate, if the protests continue, you will cause trouble for Pak Jokowi,” Susi told protesters.

It was the second time the administration canceled the implementation of the ban after the President allowed fishermen in May 2017 to use cantrang to earn a living until December, reversing the initial prohibition issued by Susi in 2015.

The May decision reportedly was made following a request from Muhaimin Iskandar, chairman of the pro-government National Awakening Party (PKB). Muhaimin claimed fishermen on the northern coast of Java, which is home to a strong base of the PKB-affiliated Nahdlatul Ulama, had been suffering economically from the cantrang prohibition.

For many years, there have been dividing opinions on whether the use of cantrang damaged the sea environment.

Fishermen use cantrang to reach the seabed, where it sweeps up marine life using fine mesh. Experts say, as a consequence, fish spawn, which are important for the habitat’s sustainability, have also been caught.

Last October, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said the cantrang ban violated the constitutional rights of fishermen. Komnas HAM argued that the sustainable harnessing of natural resources in the sea could not be done in a way that neglected the rights of people, especially fishermen.

Fishermen in Tegal, Central Java, previously carried out a fishing test using cantrang overseen by researchers from the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB). Tegal Regent Enthus Susmono, who attended Wednesday’s meeting, claimed the test found that the equipment caused no harm to the sea ecosystem.

Thousands of fishermen in Tegal also staged a demonstration on Jan. 8 demanding the revocation of what they deemed as a policy that hurt their pockets.

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