Fuel Price Hike Keeps Fishermen from Going to Sea, DPR Member Worries About Food Security Disruption

JAKARTA - A member of the Indonesian House of Representatives’ Commission IV, Daniel Johan, is concerned about the impact of the fuel price increase that has caused thousands of fishermen to stop going to sea. The PKB politician warned that this situation could disrupt national food security and directly affect fish supplies for the public. “The high increase in fuel prices for sea operations impacts many things. It’s not just that fishermen are struggling to go to sea, but also how food production in the fisheries sector is affected,” Daniel said on Thursday (7/5/2026). “The impact is very real. Fishermen are crying out, the general public is struggling to obtain the fish and seafood they need. In the end, poverty increases,” Daniel continued, citing the actions of thousands of fishermen in Pati Regency, Central Java, due to the surge in non-subsidised fuel prices. “When operational costs for going to sea skyrocket and are no longer proportionate to the catch, what happens is not just a decline in fishermen’s income, but a direct halt to production activities, which ultimately affects fish supply in the market,” he explained. If this condition persists, said Daniel, the impact will spread to the fisheries supply chain, from fish availability to food prices in the market. “A policy approach that does not differentiate the energy needs of productive sectors like fishermen risks creating layered pressures,” Daniel stated. “In this context, the fuel issue is no longer just an energy issue, but has become a food security issue,” he added. Therefore, Daniel conveyed that Commission IV of the DPR will request explanations from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and related ministries regarding fuel distribution for fishermen. “We in Commission IV of the DPR will ensure that this issue does not stop at responses to fishermen’s actions, but is translated into clear decisions that can be monitored by the public,” Daniel said. Daniel also reminded that similar problems are not only occurring in Pati, but are also starting to be felt by fishermen in several other areas. “It might only be heard in the Pati area for now. But actually, there are many fishermen in various regions who have the same problems. Not to mention areas that are struggling to access fuel stocks,” he concluded. Previously reported, thousands of fishermen in Pati Regency held a demonstration rejecting the surge in non-subsidised diesel prices reaching Rp 30,000 per litre.