River pollution affects fish ponds in Ciganjur

River pollution affects fish ponds in Ciganjur

JAKARTA (JP): The quality and quantity of water flowing into
the Ciganjur Fish Hatchery complex in South Jakarta continues to
deteriorate due to environmental damage in Depok and South
Jakarta.

Twenty-nine fish raisers who have been living at the complex
for years expressed their deep concern about the survival of the
hatchery pond as they talked to several city councilors visiting
the area on Monday.

"The environmental damage has greatly affected the production
of fish," spokesman for the fish cultivators, Firdaus, said.

He and his colleagues expressed hope that both the Jakarta
administration and the West Java provincial administration will
pay attention to the problem. "Otherwise the production of fish
at the hatchery will continue to decrease."

Firdaus also told the councilors that the fish raisers face
financial problems in further developing the hatchery.

The Ciganjur Fish Hatchery, which is located on a 10-hectare
plot of land, was developed in 1975 based on a gubernatorial
decree.

The main objective of the hatchery center is to produce
quality fish.

The Jakarta administration has two other fish hatchery
complexes, one located in Ujung Menteng, East Jakarta, and the
other in Kalideres, West Jakarta. Each was developed on a 15-
hectare plot of land.

Last year the Ciganjur hatchery complex produced a total of
433,300 fish, the Ujung Menteng hatchery produced 471,950 fish,
and the Kalideres hatchery 234,354 fish. The fish produced
included carp, catfish, tawes, gurame, nila merah, and nila
hitam.

Councilor Abdul Gani Abdullah, who chairs Commission B which
oversees economic affairs, said he and fellow members of the
commission will do their best to have the budget for the Jakarta
Fishery Department raised. "Part of the budget can be used to
boost the fish production at all three fish hatcheries," he told
Antara. (bas)