Be Careful, Consumption Of Sumatran Belida Fish Can Be Penalized By A IDR 1.5 Billion Fine

JAKARTA - Consumption of the Sumatran Belida Fish (Chitala hypselonotus) can be subject to a maximum fine of Rp. 1.5 billion, after the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) designated the South Sumatran iconic animal as a protected animal.

Head of the Palembang Maritime and Fisheries Resources Supervision Working Unit (SDKP) Maputra Prasetyo, in Palembang, Wednesday said the Belida fish population is threatened with extinction so it is in full protection status.

This protection is regulated in Ministerial Regulation of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Number 1 of 2021.

"The punishment is severe, arresting and selling to individuals or companies can result in a fine of IDR 250 million to IDR 1.5 billion," he said as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, September 1.

He explained that people who catch Belida fish will impose criminal sanctions under Article 100 junto Article 7 paragraph 2 letter C of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 45 of 2009 concerning Amendments to Indonesian Law Number 31 of 2004 concerning Fisheries with a maximum fine of IDR 250 million.

Meanwhile, collectors or collectors who then distribute are subject to sanctions under the siup article, namely Article 92 junto article 26 paragraph 1 concerning fisheries with a fine of Rp. 1.5 billion.

"Everyone must know not to use the fish as food for consumption," he said.

The owner of the Pempek Palembang center, Sri Hastuti, said that most traders no longer use belida fish, but switch to using snakehead fish or shrimp for making pempek.

Because the price is getting more and more expensive, reaching Rp. 130-170 thousand per kilogram, and it is also increasingly difficult to find in local markets.

"Around the 2000s, we still got Rp. 80,000 per kilogram, but now we only use snakehead fish, which is more economical," he said.

However, according to him, it is difficult to stop the habit of consuming belida fish for the people of Palembang.

Because the people of Palembang have used belida fish for a long time to be the basic ingredient for making pempek (a typical Palembang food) or other processed foods.

Because it has a distinctive taste from all parts starting from the meat, skin and bones after being processed into pempek.

In addition, consuming belida fish is a social value in itself in society, because it seems luxurious.

"Maybe with this rule the habit can change, food traders have reduced using belida fish," he said.