Fishermen protest use of trawls

JAMBI: Hundreds of traditional fishermen in the Kuala Tungkal subdistrict 125 kilometers east of here urged the Tanjung Jabung regent yesterday to prevent hundreds of fishing boats operating with massive small-hole trawling nets.

The fishermen told regent Ahmad Sugeng that the operations of some 300 such boats in the sea off Jambi had significantly reduced their earnings.

"We want the regent to take immediate action to stop the boats' operation, which was named by a government agency (the fishery agency) Lemparan Dasar," Antara quoted a fisherman as saying.

Another fisherman told the news agency that he had suffered losses since the boats began using the nets in the last month.

"Before the boats operated in this area, fishermen could take home at least Rp 30,000 (US$ 2.15) every day," Kadir, 28, said.

The regent told the fishermen he would ban the operation of the boats, but maintained that "it will only be for the moment" since the operational permits were issued by the provincial fishery office through a ministerial decree.

However, according to government regulations, the use of small-hole trawling nets is banned. (aan)