Panglima Laot: Fisheries PNBP Rules Strengthen Acehnese Fishermen

Illustration - Fishermen are lifting fish caught at PPS Lampulo Banda Aceh (ANTARA PHOTO/Irwansyah Putra)

The Panglima Laot Aceh Institute stated that the provisions for the implementation of the non-tax state revenue (PNBP) provisions from fishing captures were very burdensome for fishermen in Aceh.

"The PNBP provisions ranging from 5 percent to 10 percent are very burdensome for our fishermen in Aceh," said Head of Panglima Laot Aceh Miftach Tjut Adek, in Banda Aceh as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 22.

Panglima Laot is an Aceh traditional marine institution that oversees fishermen in Aceh. All problems related to the sea in Aceh cannot be separated from the authority of the institution.

Miftach explained that the government has issued Government Regulation Number 85 of 2021 concerning Types and Tariffs on Types of Non-Tax State Revenue which also apply to the ministry of marine and fisheries.

With this provision, a stipulation of the amount of PNBP or levy was born, namely five percent for each trip for 5GT to 60GT ships, and 10 percent for each trip for ships above GT60, or those that go to sea over 12 miles.

Then, he said, as a derivative of PP 85 of 2021, a Ministerial Decree (Kepmen) of the Indonesian KKP Number 140 of 2023 concerning Fish Reference Prices has also been issued.

His party asked that all the policies implemented need to be discussed again, including for fish reference prices. Even if it is implemented, it must refer to the ability of fishermen in Aceh who are still lagging behind other provinces in Indonesia.

"The policy or regulation is for Acehnese fishermen not to be implemented by the Central Government, and all regulations must first be discussed with the DPRA and the Aceh Government. This means that it should not be implemented before it is discussed," he said.

The Laot commander also asked that the benchmark price of fish in Aceh be distinguished from other areas, because Acehnese fishermen spend more capital on the needs of ships, where Acehnese fishermen take onderdil needs, ship engines must be North Sumatra Medan, so as to issue high capital for transportation expenses.

He gave an example, if the needs of fishermen in Medan for one item are purchased for Rp. 10,000, then to Aceh it will increase to Rp. 20,000. This condition makes it very difficult for Acehnese fishermen.

"The position of our fishermen makes it difficult, the fish is cheaper than North Sumatra, plus the goods are more expensive," he said.

Because, he continued, the price of fish in Aceh is different from that of North Sumatra, up to 50 percent cheaper. So if the reference price is the same, automatically the PNBP stipulation is more burdensome for Acehnese fishermen.

"We hope that the Minister of the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries can review the reference prices in Aceh. So that later PNBP for Acehnese fishermen will also be lower and not burdensome," said Miftach.

In addition, he also asked that shipping or fishery administration problems in Aceh be maintained as has been in effect so far.

"The hope of fishermen in Aceh is that all related to administration will continue as has been implemented so far, meaning that there will be no changes," said Miftach.