Lives is to difficult for fishermen on eastern shores of Bangka Island, Bangka Belitung Province, since alot of tin mines with floating suction vessel operating in the coastal areas.
Their incomes fall dramatically due to reduced catches, while operating costs increased because they have to go to even further far sea.
This condition is triggered by damaged that happen to coast because of the waste from suction floating boats mines.
Fishermen from Teluk Uber Village, Sungailiat District, Bangka regency, Rosihan (48) said that fishermen incomes in the area dropped to only 30 percent over the last few years. Usually, they are able to obtain an average catch of 7 - 10 kilograms (Kg) of fish, but now only an average of 4 kg of fish.
Some times, he explain on Sunday (2/26/12), they even get loss because their catch does not cover the capital for buy gasoline and supplies.
The fishermen in that area must also go out to farther sea, so the cost is increased. About seven years ago, fishermen just go to 3-4 miles from sea shores to get a plentiful catch. But now they have go up to 10 miles to catch a lot less. .
According to Rosihan, the increasing of murky waters that happen on eastern coast of Bangka is caused by waste from tin mines suction ships that operate about 1-2 miles from the coast. As a result, the fish are getting away into the ocean.
A number of marine commodities are now extremely rare, because the fish homes, coral reefs, is disappear or dying because of the mines.
Mud and sand waste were continuously spurt from mines floating suction vessel that damaged coral reefs. In fact, the coral reef is home to a number of marine life and place for the fish spawn.
Only about 300 thousands Indonesian Rupiahs that tin mines compensate to fishermen every three months. Rosihan said the compensation do not cover their loss income.
Other fishermen, Akong (44), said the shrimp are usually a lot in along the coast from July to August, but for the last two years it no longer exists. And Crab catch is usually in the month of November to December was just half.
In fact, shrimp and crab is a source of income for the fishermen when they could not go to sea because of high waves. Shrimp and crab are fished with nets set along the shoreline.
July to August and November to December is now really a bad season for the fishermen. They are in debt just for survival of their family.
Hundreds of fishermen on the east coast of Bangka usually start go to sea at 04.00 AM at dawn and returned at 13.00 PM. They selling their fishs to traders who have been waiting for their catch on the beach. This is the life they have known since childhood and struggled for generations.
Ocean is the only source that always giving livelihood for them. Now, the fishermen were also felt the pain that covered by sea.
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