Union proposed to boost fishery industry

Union proposed to boost fishery industry

JAKARTA (JP): Workers in fishery-related businesses have
proposed the creation of a national association to unite
different perceptions on fisheries development.

The chairman of the Federation of Indonesian Fishermen, Tuk
Setyohadi, told reporters after meeting with President Soeharto
yesterday that people in the fishery business are considering it
timely to put more emphasis on the development of the fisheries
sector, which is behind that of the neighboring Philippines,
Taiwan and Thailand.

"President Soeharto acknowledges that the fishery industry is
the least developed of the agricultural sector and its
development, therefore, requires sound management," he said.

Tuk said the proposed association, which will be named
Masyarakat Perikanan Nusantara (the Nusantara Fisheries Society),
will be expected to establish a common perspective on developing
aquatic resources and the most sustainable and optimal manner to
achieve it.

Although the President has not yet formally approved of the
association, Tuk said: "I believe he has implicitly acknowledged
the urgency to develop this field."

"The year 1996 has been declared the Maritime and Aerospace
Year, so the establishment of the association will coincide with
this," he added.
Soeharto, he said, has asked people to develop not only methods
of catching fish but also general aqua-culture.

Tuk pointed out that the declining fish stocks in certain
parts of Indonesia have led to harmful fishing practices.

"Fishermen are desperate, so they use dangerous equipment
which can be harmful to aquatic resources, including coral reefs
and mangrove forests."

He added that Soeharto also encouraged large fisheries-based
businesses and small-scale fishermen to collaborate more closely.

According to the president the proposed association is a way
for the Association of Indonesian Fishing Companies (Gappindo) to
become involved in partnership programs with its smaller
counterparts.

Large companies, for instance, can help traditional fishermen
buy small fishing vessels measuring three deadweight tons (DWT).

According to Soeharto, the price of such vessels, which can up
to Rp 9 million (US$3,930) each, is unaffordable to most
fishermen.

"Large companies can help fishermen by educating them on how
to operate vessels and later allow them to buy the vessels on a
credit basis," Tuk said. (pwn)