Ornamental Fish Trader Complains Of Difficulty Getting Oxygen

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TULUNGAGUNG - A number of ornamental fish traders who used to send packages of ornamental fish to various regions in Indonesia began to complain about the impact of oxygen scarcity which is currently concentrated for medical needs.

"Without oxygen, the fish sent cannot last long in closed plastic bags," said Moh Majid Makruf, an ornamental fish cultivator and trader from Bendiljati Wetan Village, Tulungagung, East Java, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, July 13.

Majid currently can only rely on the remaining oxygen reserves. Many other fish traders who are currently struggling can't send orders for ornamental fish because they don't get oxygen supplies from agents and bases.

At the oxygen filling agent in Tamanan, for example, a number of traders and fish suppliers have to turn right with the cylinders still empty.

Many oxygen filling agents now refuse to fill oxygen cylinders for commercial purposes because they are focused on meeting medical oxygen needs. Both from hospitals, health centers, RSDC, as well as requests from residents who undergo self-isolation at home.

"The priority is temporary, especially during this emergency PPKM, to meet medical oxygen needs. Everyone must be patient and understand the current situation. This is for the sake of humanity," said Meme, owner of an oxygen filling agent south of the Tamanan intersection, Tulungagung City.

Due to the scarcity of oxygen, traders tend to withhold shipments. Some still manage to get oxygen from agents or bases, but the price has now doubled.

According to Majid's confession, oxygen for a one-cubic tube, which was usually priced at Rp.45 thousand, has now increased to Rp.75 thousand.

Meanwhile, oxygen for six-cubic cylinders, which normally only costs Rp. 75 thousand, has now been increased to Rp. 200 thousand. That too is very hard to come by.

"Shipping costs become more expensive with the price of oxygen that has doubled like this," he said.

In Tulungagung, there are dozens of fish traders and suppliers such as Majid Makruf. Ornamental fish products that are sold and sent outside the region such as types of koi fish, mas Koki, Osar and so on.

The ornamental fish are packed in transparent plastic containers filled with water a quarter of the container, given a sedative so the fish don't get drunk, then filled with oxygen so the fish inside can last up to 24 hours.

If the destination is far away, traders usually provide backup oxygen for recharging on the way.