Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti has reminded Central Java fishermen that she is adamant on her decision to enforce a ban on the use of cantrang (seine net), which has been identified as destructive to coral reef and the seabed ecosystem.

Susi made the remarks while distributing fishing equipment deemed more environmentally friendly, such as gillnets, blue crab traps and guiding barriers, to fishermen along the northern coast of Central Java's Semarang on Wednesday, calling on the fishermen to start using the new equipment and altering their fishing habits.

"[We all] have until Dec. 31 [to replace cantrang with other sustainable fishing equipment]," Susi said.

Cantrang, along with trawl, is in fact grouped under the category of instruments banned in a 2015 ministerial regulation. However, cantrang remains popular among fishermen across Java, some of whom continue to oppose Susi who seeks to fully implement the policy by the end of the year.

In its bid to promote sustainable fishery habits among small-scale fishermen, the government has distributed fishing equipment to 2,000 owners of boats measuring less than 10 gross tons. The government has promised to reach out to 7,255 fishermen eligible for the program nationwide. (ipa)

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Suherdjoko

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