Waste deluge shuts shrimp ponds

Waste deluge shuts shrimp ponds

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of shrimp farmers in Muara Gembong
district in Bekasi have temporarily closed their business due to
waste infiltration in their ponds in the past six months.

"The pitch-black waste which has killed our shrimp and
bandeng (freshwater milkfish) is believed to have drifted from
the water around Tanjung Priok Port (North Jakarta)," Badrawi,
one of the farmers, said yesterday.

He added that the waste, which had not been identified as
organic or industrial in origin, was difficult to clean up.

Many of the farmers are no longer able to continue their
longtime business and have resorted to jobs as casual workers at
factories and nearby Kali Baru seaport in Cilincing, Antara news
agency reported.

The grim decision was taken in an attempt to survive the
crisis, where job vacancies are limited and prices of most goods
and services have soared, Badrawi said.

Representing his fellow farmers, Badrawi blamed the local
authorities, particularly the Bekasi Fishery Agency, for not
helping the shrimp-pond farmers deal with the waste problem.

"So far, the agency has never helped us in looking for high
quality spawn. The spawn we had was easily contaminated with
waste," he said.