Diesel price hike leaves fishermen high and dry
Diesel price hike leaves fishermen high and dry
Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung
Traditional fisherman Mahyudin takes the news of fuel price increase without even blinking. The 37-year-old, who depends on diesel fuel to run his fishing boat, has faced fluctuating prices before.
In August last year when the "official" government-set price of diesel fuel stood at Rp 1,650 (about 18 U.S. cents) a liter, shortages meant Mahyudin and other fishermen were paying Rp 3,000 a liter to retailers.
So when the price was again increased to Rp 2,100 per liter, the fishermen were not surprised. Always paying more than the official price, this time around Mahyudin buys it for Rp 3,200 a liter.
Supplies remain a problem. "People say that's the reason the price has become very expensive and forced many fishermen to stop going out to the sea," he said.
Many of Mahyudin's neighbors in Sukaraja, Bandarlampung, have left their boats idle during the past six months because fuel is too costly.
Herza, executive director of Mitra Bentala, a non-governmental organization working with fishermen in isolated islands, said about 3,000 fishers from Lampung Bay in Bandarlampung, Kotaagung in Tanggamus, and Labuhan Maringgai in East Lampung had abandoned their boats since fuel prices began to rise in July last year.
He blamed the fuel scarcity in Lampung on stockpiling by retailers and other fishermen.
Lampung Fishermen's Union (SNL) secretary-general, Joko Purwanto, said many fishermen were forced to switch jobs, becoming laborers and pedicab drivers in Bandarlampung and moving as far away as Tangerang or Jakarta.
He said that fuel price hikes were usually followed by fuel shortages due to large-scale purchases by industry.
The shortage would affect around 5,000 fishing families in the area.
Muhammad Yamin, 30, a former fisherman from Panjang, said he was forced to become a pedicab driver because the fishing boat where he worked stopped operating.
"They say there is a shortage of diesel fuel, so my friends and I have to turns to pedicab to make a living. The earnings are small, but enough to get by on day by day," Muhammad said.
He said many other fishermen shared his fate. Those who continued to go out to sea had stockpiled their own fuel he said.
Yamin said that even if they could afford to buy diesel fuel, the price would reach Rp 3,000 per liter now.
"A single fishing trip can use up to Rp 75,000 worth of diesel in a trip, not to mention the costs for meals and other expenses. We'll still be short of income because a single trip can only bring in around Rp 75,000," he said.
Sutopo, a Karangjaya resident in Bandarlampung, who owns two fishing boats said that he and other traditional fishermen now fished in area near Sebuku island -- 10 hours from Panjang beach.
They fished so far out because there were not much fish left in nearer coastal areas. The larger commercial trawlers were making life difficult for traditional fishermen, he said.
"Previously, we could easily catch 30 to 40 kg of fish around Panjang beach and earn a net profit of Rp 100,000 a day. But now, even after spending more, I earn less than Rp 25,000."