Dozens of Ton of Fish in Fish Traps Died Allegedly due to Batanghari River Polluted

JAKARTA - Dozens of tons of fish belonging to cage farmers in five villages in the Jambi Luar Kota (Jaluko) District, Muaro Regency, Jambi, died allegedly due to water pollution in the Batanghari River.

"The number is a lot, at most only 10 percent of the total we sow, the rest die," said the cage farmer Musa Yusuf as reported by ANTARA, Sunday, August 9.

According to him, the phenomenon of the death of fish belonging to the cage farmers has increased in the last three months, as the water flow of the Batanghari River has decreased due to the dry season.

In addition to the decrease in river water levels, this death, according to him, was caused by toxic waste pollution (mercury) due to mining activities in the upstream part of Batanghari which is getting more massive.

For this reason, Musa asked the government to think about the problem so that fish farmers along the river do not feel the impact of illegal gold mining activities.

He detailed, Jaluko District is one of the centers for producing freshwater fish in Jambi Province.

The farmers in the area spread from Sungai Duren Village, Sarang Burung, Mendalo Laut and Pematang Jering, all of whom use the river flow to cultivate carp (Cyprinus carpio) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

As a result of the environmental pollution, it is estimated that the number of dead fish reaches tens of tons every month.

"For the Jaluko District alone, there may be tens of tons of dead fish every month, because in this area there are thousands of ponds. Just imagine, out of the eight thousand fish that are sown, maybe only 800 to 900 tails are alive, this is for one plot. If each farmer has 10 plots, just multiply it," he said.

Member of the Jambi Provincial DPRD, Ivan Wirata, assessed that the pollution of the Batanghari River was an accumulation of problems from upstream to downstream due to the problem of illegal mining activities, household waste disposal (garbage) and industry, including abrasion due to the lack of greening movement.

He added, based on reports from the drinking water company (PDAM), based on the measurement of turbidity level (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit) or NTU, the turbidity of raw water reached 1,400 NTU, jumping almost four times the normal limit which is in the range of 250-300 NTU.

Responding to this issue, Ivan asked the government to immediately take strategic steps to save the environment, especially the Batanghari River, by involving cross-sectors.

Including encouraging the status of the Batanghari River Basin (DAS) to be included in the National Strategic Project (PSN), so that the central government can take part in conservation efforts.

"Fish that die in the nets are only examples of symptoms on the surface, the real problem is the damage to the ecosystem in the upstream which must be repaired. If the Batanghari River Basin is saved, this river is not only a source of life, but a major investment that supports regional economic growth," he explained.

The researcher of Sumatran fish and lecturer of Biology at Jambi University (Unja) Tedjo Sukmono assessed that illegal gold mining activities were proven to threaten aquatic biota in the Batanghari River.

Tedjo explained, based on data, from 1986 to 1994 the Batanghari River had approximately 300 fish species.

However, over time, that number has continued to shrink.

From the results of research three years ago (2023), only about 135 species of fish remain.

Responding to this issue, Tedjo emphasized the need for concrete action from those who have power relations so that species and populations in the river can be saved.

"There needs to be a social movement to save the Batanghari River, the preparation of a management plan together and integrated," he said.