Fish farmers caught between ban, virus<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post\/Medan<\/p>\n
The North Sumatra administration has appealed to fish farmers to
\nstop cultivating fish for a year following the deaths of hundreds
\nof tons of carp in Lake Toba from the Koi herpes virus.<\/p>\n
North Sumatra Fisheries Office chief Ridwan Batubara said the
\nauthorities were concerned the virus would return if the farmers
\ncontinued cultivating fish.<\/p>\n
\"The farmers are the ones who will suffer additional losses if
\nthey don't do something. Their fish would certainly die because
\nthe virus has spread everywhere,\" Ridwan told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
A carp farmer in Lake Toba, Jannes Purba, 48, stopped farming
\nhis fish about a week ago.<\/p>\n
Though the administration may be looking out for the well
\nbeing of the farmers, those involved in the industry are
\nconcerned and upset over the possible loss of their livelihood,
\nsaid Jannes, a father of three.<\/p>\n
\"We are confused because we have not worked for a week now.
\nRather than sitting around doing nothing, carp farmers at the
\nfloating fish hatcheries would prefer to continue raising fish.
\nUnfortunately, the government has prohibited us from doing this,\"
\nsaid Jannes at Haranggaol beach in Lake Toba.<\/p>\n
Jannes said many farmers were falling into debt and were
\nmissing payments on bank loans. He said he borrowed Rp 50 million
\n(US$5,500) from one of the farmers' cooperatives this year, but
\nbefore he could repay the loan his fish died from the virus.<\/p>\n
He said the administration should provide the fish farmers
\nwith aid. \"How can we repay our if our fish keep dying? Where can
\nwe get the money?\"<\/p>\n
The vice chairman of the Haranggaol Fish Farmers Association
\nin Simalungun, Timbul Saragih, said farmers had suffered
\nestimated losses of Rp 44 billion.<\/p>\n
Timbul said the virus had affected 285 fish farmers operating
\n2,942 fish hatcheries. \"The loss from each unit is estimated at
\nRp 15 million.\"<\/p>\n
Ridwan said the Koi herpes virus had spread to different areas
\nof the province. He said the virus first appeared in Haranggaol,
\nSimalungun regency, in early November before spreading to Lake
\nToba, Haranggaol and Tigaras in Simalungun, Simanindo and
\nPangururan in Samosir, Tongging in Karo and Balige in Toba
\nSamosir, eventually reaching as far as North Tapanuli regency.<\/p>\n
\"The virus only attacks carp. We estimate that nearly 1,000
\ntons of carp in different areas have died,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ridwan said his office was working to stop the outbreak.
\nDuring the lull in fish farming, the fisheries office has sent a
\nteam to conduct studies in the affected areas.<\/p>\n
\"Our mission is to control the virus in a year's time so the
\nfarmers can return to business as usual.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fish-farmers-caught-between-ban-virus-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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