The fishermen organization slammed the government’s decision saying that lifting ban on trawling by commercial fishing vessels will further deplete the country’s fish resources and hurt the thousands of traditional, small-scale fishermen who depend on the sea for a living. Riza Damanik, the general secretary of the People’s Coalition for Justice in Fishing, or Kiara, told that the decision once again allow the use of trawl nets in designated areas was a retrograde step for the industry. Instead of stimulating economic growth the decision could reduce the incomes of fishermen by up to 60 percent.
Damanik also opined that the economic circumstances of traditional fishermen were worrisome. Ministry figures state that the fishermen earned an average of Rp 519,000 ($48.27) per month in 2008. Damanik told that it is unacceptable for the government to permit trawling again, even if it is to be confined to designated areas. As per the regulation, trawling will only be allowed in designated areas off East Kalimantan Province, with all of the waters involved being within the maritime boundaries of Nunukan, Bulungan, Nunukan, Tana Tidung, and Kota Tarakan districts.
Environmentalists frequently criticize the use of trawl nets because of the damage they cause to the sea floor and the fact that they snare both marketable and non-marketable fish, with the latter being dumped. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi said trawling would only be allowed in waters off East Kalimantan. He said a licensing system was needed to counter illegal fishing in Indonesian waters by large Malaysian vessels.
