Fishermen at a loss due to pollution<\/p>\n
Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung<\/p>\n
Although compensation has been given by sugar cane factory PT
\nGunung Madu Plantations (GMP) to local fishermen in Lampung, the
\nfishermen remain reluctant to go fishing due to declining fish
\nstocks in Bandarlampung's polluted water.<\/p>\n
They claim pollution would force them to stay home for at
\nleast the next six months.<\/p>\n
Coordinator of the Lampung chapter of the Indonesian Forum for
\nthe Environment (Walhi) Mashuri Abdullah said on Friday that the
\nchemicals in the sugar cane fluid could spread and cause more
\nwidespread damage.<\/p>\n
\"It has not only contaminated the water near the port, but has
\nalso spread to other areas because of the changing wind
\ndirection,\" Mashuri said.<\/p>\n
Pollution in the waters around Panjang seaport was first
\ndiscovered on May 8. An underground pipeline distributing sugar
\ncane fluid from PT GMP to the docked ship Paros Valleta was found
\nto be leaking.<\/p>\n
The pollution destroyed much of the surrounding marine life.
\nFishermen feared that in the next few months, they would not be
\nable to find anymore fish.<\/p>\n
The pollution was estimated to have killed more than 31 types
\nof fish.<\/p>\n
Walhi's advocacy and campaign manager Mukri Priatna said it
\nwould take at least six months to recover the polluted water.<\/p>\n
Walhi estimated 900 tons of sugar cane fluid had leaked from
\nthe pipeline, but an official at Panjang seaport claimed it was
\nas much as 1,500 tons.<\/p>\n
PT GMP claimed there was only 300 tons. The widening
\ncontaminated area was because of the wind, it said.<\/p>\n
PT GMP Financial Director Gunamarwan said the dissemination of
\nfish eggs, known as restocking, could only be made in July after
\nthe compensation dispute had been resolved.<\/p>\n
\"We are still assessing this matter before we distribute the
\nfish eggs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Compensation talks turned into a dispute as about 40 people
\npretended to be fishermen.<\/p>\n
PT GMP, however, decided to render the compensation to 1,027
\nfishermen living nearby the location.<\/p>\n
PT GMP spokesman Hapris Jawodo said the compensation was given
\nonly to fishermen living between the Hanjung area and the village
\nof Sukaraja in South Telukbetung.<\/p>\n
\"PT GMP has provided Rp 700 million (US$77,777) compensation.
\nTo receive compensation, the fishermen have had to fulfill some
\nrequirements,\" Hapris said, citing ID cards and recommendations
\nfrom the fishermen union and the respective village heads.<\/p>\n
The amount of compensation has varied from Rp 900,000 to Rp
\n200,000 for ship owners and ship crew respectively.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the evaluation team for the granting of the
\ncompensation, Suparmo, acknowledged that several people had
\npretended to be fishermen in an effort to obtain the
\ncompensation.<\/p>\n
He said anyone unable to provide the required documents would
\nfind their claim declared fictitious.<\/p>\n
Suparmo said there were at least 42 people who had pretended
\nto be fishermen. \"But, they would not be given compensation
\nbecause they were unable to show the required documents.\"<\/p>\n
A team member and local councillor, Prabawa said that if the
\nphony fishermen insisted on asking for compensation, the team
\nwould bring the case to the police. But if they withdrew their
\ndemand, the team would not report the matter to the authorities.<\/p>\n
\"We will do that for humanitarian reasons,\" he added.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fishermen-at-a-loss-due-to-pollution-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }