Hunger for shark fins running high<\/p>\n
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post\/Indramayu<\/p>\n
Shark fins from Indramayu, West Java are in demand by people in a
\nnumber of countries in East Asia as indicated by the amount that
\nis exported each month -- up to 90 tons.<\/p>\n
Hong Kong, Japan and China are the main destinations for shark
\nfins, with Singapore and Malaysia not too far behind.<\/p>\n
One of the suppliers of shark fins in Indramayu is Sumangi
\nTarmidi, 38, who runs a seafood-processing facility in Pabelan
\nUdik village, in Indramayu regency.<\/p>\n
He explained that his company could process at least one to
\nthree tons of fins per day from various species of shark caught
\nby the fishermen off the coasts of Java.<\/p>\n
\"We also accept sharks caught by fishermen from outside the
\narea, like Sumatra or East Java. But, at the moment, most of the
\nsupply comes from the waters off Indramayu,\" said Sumangi.<\/p>\n
Sumangi said that he started the business in 1990. His company
\nemploys 60 people now and has a turnover reaching Rp 500 million
\na month. He said that most of the processed shark fins were aimed
\nat the East Asia market.<\/p>\n
\"The biggest orders come from importers in Japan. Singaporean
\nand Malaysian importers have also done business with us. The
\nshark fins are sent to the designated countries through an
\nexporting company in Jakarta,\" said Sumangi.<\/p>\n
The price of shark fins marketed by Sumangi varies according
\nto size. A large fin measuring over 36 centimeters (cm) costs Rp
\n1.5 million (about US$157).<\/p>\n
A medium-sized fin around 30cm long costs Rp 1.3 million, and
\na smaller fins under 30 cm is priced at Rp 700,000.<\/p>\n
Sumangi explained that the sharks obtained from fishermen in
\nIndramayu consisted of various species, such as hammerhead
\nsharks, tiger sharks, the yong bun (weighing a maximum of 150 kg
\neach), kikir (75 kg) and karangan (120 kg).<\/p>\n
\"They are supplied by fishermen through the Karang Song
\nwholesale market in Indramayu district,\" said Sumangi.<\/p>\n
Besides shark fins, fin cartilage can be used in the
\nmanufacture of cosmetics. Fishermen sell the shark fin and
\ncartilage for between Rp 30,000 an Rp 40,000 per kg.<\/p>\n
A number of fishermen at the Karang Song market said that they
\nhad also reaped benefits from the shark fin processing industry.<\/p>\n
Casmadi, 34, said that even though most of the fishermen here
\nhad no expertise in catching sharks, those caught in their nets
\ncould be sold at good prices.<\/p>\n
Casmadi said that nearly all parts of the shark could be sold.<\/p>\n
\"Its meat can be sold to Jamblang rice sellers in Cirebon.
\nThey call it cucut meat. It is cooked as a side dish with nasi
\nJamblang,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nasi Jamblang, a specialty of Cirebon, is steamed rice wrapped
\nin teak leaves and buyers are free to choose the variety of side
\ndishes to accompany the rice. Nasi Jamblang is generally sold
\nunder tents along the sidewalks of Cirebon. But nowadays, many
\nhave established proper restaurants.<\/p>\n
Sumangi was apparently at a loss for words when asked whether
\nthe sharks he exported were protected or not. \"I don't really
\nknow whether the sharks we process are protected species or not.
\nBut if I find out that they are protected, I would certainly not
\nuse them. But I've never been reprimanded by the authorities,\"
\nSumangi pointed out.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hunger-for-shark-fins-running-high-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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