Task Force Facilitates Fishermen with Capital

The task force formed by the government to speed up the replacement of \'cantrang\', will start working next week.

Kompas/Priyombodo

Crew members unload cakalang from KM. Sinar Arindo 66 at the Nizam Zachman Ocean Fisheries Port in North Jakarta on Friday (19/1). The government has asked fishermen to switch from seine nets to a more environmentally friendly catching method as part of an effort to ensure the sustainability of marine resources.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The task force formed by the government to speed up the replacement of cantrang, a kind of Danish seine net considered environmentally harmful, will start working next week. The task force consisting of inter-institution officials will coach and facilitate fishermen both in capital and transfer of technology.

One problem related to capital the fishermen are facing is the bank credit that was used to purchase cantrang. It needs a mechanism that allows the fishermen’s old bank credit to be restructured to enable them to purchase new fishing nets without ignoring the banking prudence principle.