EU to grant fishing vessels to RI fishermen
EU to grant fishing vessels to RI fishermen
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
The European Union (EU) is accelerating attempts to pass a policy
to grant tsunami-stricken nations used fishing vessels, in
addition to training assistance for local fishermen in operating
the vessels and in fisheries management.
Rio D. Praaning Prawira Adiningrat, president of Brussels-
based investment consulting firm Praaning Meines NV/SA told The
Jakarta Post recently that the EU commission was still discussing
procedures for granting the vessels, and would make a decision
soon.
Praaning Meines is currently an advisor to the EU.
"Due to the tsunami the EU has called for the grant of used
fishing ships, especially to Indonesia, and at the same time
indicates that it may open up the EU fish market to tsunami-
stricken countries," he said.
Part of the EU's efforts to widen the market for fish products
from affected countries will be to cut import duties and to raise
import quotas allocated to these countries.
Adiningrat explained that the EU had a lot of ships and
fishermen but insufficient fish resources, while Indonesia had
resources but insufficient vessels and skills.
The vessels will be given to fishermen who are willing to set
up a joint venture company with fishermen from the EU. EU
fishermen will assist local fishermen to operate the vessels.
The joint ventures are expected to employ local fishermen and
at the same time transfer advanced fishing technology.
According to Adiningrat, the ships and training facilities for
Indonesia will be allocated mostly to fishermen living in Aceh
who were severely impacted by the Dec. 16 tsunami. However, the
EU would also consider expanding the project to fishermen living
in other provinces.
According to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries,
losses for the fishing industry in Aceh due to the disaster were
estimated at some Rp 3.8 trillion (US$414 million), comprising
mostly destruction of hatcheries, fishing equipment and vessels.
The ministry said over 14,000 Acehnese fishermen perished in
the disaster while 6,000 of 8,000 fishing vessels in the province
were either destroyed or lost.
Most Acehnese fishermen affected by the disaster live on the
eastern coast of Aceh, and most of them have refused a government
offer to relocate them to safer areas on higher ground.