Thousand Islands' fishermen form union
By Berni K. Moestafa
JAKARTA (JP): After years of fighting against unfair competition brought on by illegal trawling, traditional fishermen in the Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands) marine resort area eventually agreed to establish a union to help voice their rights.
Representatives of the fishermen established on Sunday the first ever fishermen's union at the conclusion of a three-day congress in Panggang Island, one of the 106 islands in the chain off the shore of North Jakarta on Sunday.
Husen Syamsudin, one of the fishermen, told some 65 participants of the congress that they had long suffered from a loss in income due to trawlers depleting the fish supply in their area.
"We have problems competing with illegal trawlers operating in the Thousand Islands area.
"We repeatedly complained to city administration and police about continuing illegal trawling, but our protests have gone unanswered," he said.
He said the fishermen had even caught illegal trawlers a few times and handed them over to police for legal prosecution. "But no substantial measures were ever taken against them (the trawlers)."
He said the fishermen had also had difficulties in marketing their fish due to minimum access to information.
"I hope that with a fishermen's union, we can survive such unfair business rivalry," he said.
The idea of establishing the union was presented by prominent environmentalist Emil Salim at the opening of the congress.
"Only through a strong union can the local fishing community solve their problems," Emil, who is a former minister of environment, said while addressing the opening of the congress on Friday.
Concern
The congress was organized by the Thousand Islands Consortium, a group of several nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and foundations concerned with the fishermen's social welfare of the local community.
Participating at the congress were representatives of other foundations and NGOs, including the Kehati environmental foundation, the Open University's (UT) Institute for Community Dedication, the Bogor Institute of Agriculture's Fisheries Diving Club, Bina Desa foundation, the Indonesian Green Club, Mayang group of environmentalists and outdoor sports magazine Jelajah.
Emil, also a chairman of Kehati, said traditional fishermen in the Thousand Islands had faced unfair competition from fisherman using modern equipment making it difficult for them to prosper.
He said that with the union the fishermen would have a stronger voice in addressing their problems and seeking a solution.
"The union will bring the fishermen into a network that will help them solve their problems," he said.
Anton Soedjarwo, a member of Kehati, said a union would help the fishermen settle problems like finding uses for fish parts which are unfit for human consumption.
"The union, with its network, will provide information on how to change waste products into marketable commodities," he said.
Ruddy Gustave, an activist from the Antitrawl Fishermen Movement (GRANAT), said the union would be effective in fighting against illegal trawling.
"Only if they (traditional fishermen) work together can illegal trawling be eliminated, " he said.
Lilik Sulistyowati of the Open University's (UT) Institute for Community Dedication said, however, that growing tourism in the region should be in harmony with the development of local culture and the ecosystem.
"All construction projects for the development of the region should not neglect the local cultural content and the capacity of the ecosystem.
"There shouldn't be any big hotels, but only one-story cottages here," she said.
The congress also elected Abdullah Feri as head of the newly established union, which was named the Thousand Island Fishers Union (SNKS).