Non-Subsidised Diesel Prices Surge, Leaving Thousands of Fishermen in Indramayu Unemployed

The increase in the price of non-subsidised diesel fuel has caused the collapse of the capture fishing industry in Indramayu Regency, West Java. Hundreds of boats are unable to set sail, resulting in thousands of fishermen serving as crew members becoming unemployed. In response, hundreds of fishermen and boat owners affiliated with the Gerakan Nelayan Pantura held a protest rally at the Karangsong Fish Auction Site (TPI) in Indramayu Regency on Monday (4/5/2026). In addition to delivering speeches, they read out a letter containing their demands addressed to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, and the Regent of Indramayu, Lucky Hakim. The General Chairman of Gerakan Nelayan Pantura, Kajidin, stated that the rise in non-subsidised diesel prices is severely stifling because it is not matched by an increase in fish prices. This has led to hundreds of boats currently unable to go to sea. “Diesel prices have skyrocketed. For nearly two months, we’ve been finished. There are hundreds of boats that are not sailing,” said Kajidin. Today, the price of industrial diesel is around Rp27,000 per litre. A few times previously, the price of industrial diesel was still around Rp16,000 per litre. Kajidin acknowledged that currently, some boats are still at sea because they departed before the diesel prices surged. However, those boats now at sea will also face the same fate when they return to land. “That will become a nightmare for us when those boats land, because they too will not be able to return to sea due to the soaring fuel prices,” he emphasised.