East Javanese rule Jimbaran's waves

JIMBARAN, Bali (JP): Javanese is widely spoken here. The dialect can be heard everywhere and Javanese faces are seen all along Kedonganan beach.

According to American anthropologist Fred Eisemann, who has spent decades in Jimbaran, the fishing activities around Kedonganan beach is dominated by East Javanese migrants.

East Javanese fishermen came to Kedonganan more than 30 years ago and now dominate the fishing industry here. Some of them operate their own vessels and others work for wealthy Balinese boat owners, Eisemann said.

"Almost all of the boats here are operated by Javanese fishermen. Even the fish vendors on the beach, in the surrounding neighborhoods and in the fish market are predominantly East Javanese," he said.

Eisemann said that the role of East Javanese in Kedonganan's fishing activities increased after they started using jukung vessels in the early 1980s.

"The Javanese fishermen, and some Bugis people, have since controlled the fishing activities in Kedonganan," he said.

Balinese fishermen now do other work. Many of them work in seafood restaurants along Jimbaran beach. With the many hotels in the area, many Balinese also have jobs in the fields of tourism and hospitality, as they do all around Bali, he said.

Some local fishermen may feel overwhelmed by the increasing roles of Javanese fishermen. With bigger vessels, Javanese fishermen can go further out to sea and fish for longer periods of time, thereby catching more fish than the Balinese can with their smaller vessels.

Local fishermen, especially those living along Jimbaran beach, cannot afford to buy bigger vessels. Smaller vessels, called perahu, cost at least Rp 600,000 (US$200) while jukung are at least Rp 1 million each.

A Balinese, Nyoman Suriasta, said he had never heard of any local being jealous of Javanese migrants.

"I never heard of anything like that. As far I know, the East Javanese fishermen have been playing big roles in the fishing industry, including in Kedonganan, for a long time and none of us (Balinese) have ever held it against them," Nyoman said.

"Fishing is basically not our way of life. We work the land, we are farmers. That's why I say Balinese never feel as though the Javanese came and took away our opportunity to have a better life," said Nyoman. (cst)