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Sorong fishermen are facing difficulties over fuel price hike

Sorong, Ekuatorial – As it was getting far to catch fish in addition to recent fuel price hike, fishermen were having hard times in Sorong, Papua, said a fisherman on Monday (12/4).

“Our fish catch areas are far from coastal areas. We have to look for fish up to Batanta island, around 30 miles from Sorong,” said Frans Worabay, deputy head of Sorong Traditional Fishermen Group, which members using boats with 15 horse power.

The farther they need to go to catch fish, Worabay explained, the longer time needed to be at sea which means increasing expenses, especially on fuel.

“We would need 150 liters of diesel with Rp 7,500 (US$ 0.5) per liter. If we only catch 100 kilograms, it’s the same as wasting money,” he said adding that they would spend at least a week in the sea.

Most of fishes are being sold to local markets, Sentral Semu Market, Boswezeen Market and Jembatan Puri Market, with high price as a result of current condition.

“The cheapest fish for one basket is Rp 150,000 (US$ 11) and Rp 350,000 (US$ 26) for most expensive but usually you don’t get a full basket, only half of it,” said Gito, a fishmonger at Pangkalan Pendaratan Ikan (PPI).

Rahmat, another fishmonger, also said that fishes were getting limited and expensive.

Purwanto of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), said that the condition was often occurred in Indonesia due to over fishing.

“As a result, fish catch is declining drastically and catching areas are getting farther and farther,” said Purwanto adding that most affected of the situation was traditional and local fishermen.

“The government needs to find short term solution for these local issues because without it being solved, it would be impossible to solve long term problems,” he said. Niken Proboretno.

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