Unemployed For A Year Due To Bad Weather, Now Fishermen From The South Coast Of Cianjur Can Go To Sea Again

Fishermen in South Cianjur, are now fishing again. (photo: doc. between)

CIANJUR - After almost a year of landing the boat due to the extreme weather that hit the southern coast of West Java, now fishermen on the southern coast of Cianjur, West Java, are back to sea. Moreover, the fish famine season is also considered to have ended so that the fish auction place (TPI) is expected to be built soon to improve the fishermen's economy.

"It's only been a few days since fishermen on the South coast have returned to sea because the weather is starting to be friendly, even though they don't reach the high seas. For one-time income, it's quite high from 70 to 100 kilograms, it's good that we can cover our debts as long as we don't go to sea," said a fisherman on Jayanti Beach, Cianjur. , Cacu when contacted Saturday, April 9th.

Hundreds of fishermen have returned to the middle of the sea because they have been unemployed for too long and have no income. Since the entry of the fasting month, the weather has begun to be friendly and the waves are not too high, so hundreds of boats have been lowered again.

Throughout 2021, Cacu, fishermen are mostly unemployed due to extreme weather until early 2022. This is also coupled with restrictions on activities that make it increasingly difficult for fishermen to work. But now they can breathe again because the price of fish has also increased.

"The price of fish varies from Rp. 40,000 to Rp. 60,000 per kilogram for the type of yellowtail fish, for snapper and grouper there is up to Rp. 70,000 per kilogram, from the usual only Rp. 50 thousand - 60 thousand per kilogram. We also hope that the TPI will be reactivated again. ," he said.

The head of the Cianjur Rumbayan Fishermen's Joint Business Group (KUB), Agus Bambang Irawan, said that since returning to sea the fishermen's catches in the past week have been very good, ranging from 100 kilograms to 500 kilograms for types, tuna, layur and cob.

"It is not certain what month the fishing season is because the catch is supported by good weather, the increase in catch occurs only at certain times, it doesn't necessarily increase this month. Almost one year fishermen on the south coast do not go to sea," he said.

So far, he said, the government's attention to fishermen is still low. They even seem neglected because they have never received assistance like community groups such as farmers and other business actors. They hope that this year they will get assistance in buying fuel oil.

Deputy Regent of Cianjur, TB Mulyana Syachrudin said this year, the regional government together with the West Java Provincial Government will rebuild the Fish Auction Place on Jayanti Beach, to boost the economy, including providing shopping tours for tourists who come.

"We will wake up and reactivate the TPI on the south coast of Cianjur, so that the fishermen's economy will increase and tourists can shop for fish for souvenirs after traveling. We will coordinate with the provincial government and the central government," he said.