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)