Fishermen protest use of trawls

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)