Be Alert, Fish Thief In Palangka Raya Can Be Subjected To Customary Sanctions

Illustration of officers guarding captured fishing boats. (Photo: Jessica H Wuysang/Antara)

JAKARTA - Head of the Fisheries Service Office of Palangka Raya City, Central Kalimantan Province, Indriarti Ritadewi, said that fishing thieves can be subject to customary sanctions.

"This provision has also been contained in the Palangka Raya Mayor's Regulation on Control of Fishery Resources Based on Community Monitoring Groups," he said, in Palangka Raya, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, August 31.

He said that the customary sanctions against fish thieves or perpetrators of illegal fishing will be decided by the party handling customary cases whose sanctions are adjusted to the level of violation.

However, if the fishing theft is considered very severe and very detrimental, it can be continued to the level of criminal law which is adjusted to the applicable legislation.

He stated that the customary sanctions listed in the Perwali that had just been passed were an effort to accommodate customs and culture in the midst of developments and times.

In addition, it is also an effort to increase the role of indigenous peoples and community supervisory groups in maintaining environmental ecosystems, especially waters in the capital city of Central Kalimantan Province.

He said that in an effort to improve the supervision and control of fishery resources, his party will maximize the role of Community Monitoring Groups, which currently have at least 20 more Pokmaswas fisheries spread over 30 urban villages in the local city.

"Through this perwali, we also want to increase the role of Pokmaswas in supervising and directly controlling fishery resources. At least in the neighborhood where Pokmaswas live," he said.

Expert Staff of the Mayor of Palangka Raya for Human Resources and Community Affairs, Supriyanto, said the perwali was also to strengthen the role of Pokmaswas as the spearhead of supervision and control of fishery resources.

"Empowerment of Pokmaswas is expected to be effective and efficient in controlling and utilizing fishery resources in Palangka Raya City," he said.

Moreover, he continued, the fisheries resources of Palangka Raya, which consist of three major rivers, 104 swamps and lakes, would be very difficult for the government to monitor if there was no direct community role.

In addition, because there is still theft of fish before and during the dry season. One of them with the practice of stun. "Later Pokmaswas will report in stages to the City Government level on every reported activity, including if it finds fish theft in the field," said Supriyanto.