In The Former Central Bangka Mining Hole, Thousands Of Fish Seeds Were Spread

Central Bangka Regent while carrying out the first harvest of formerly mining pit fresh water fish, Friday (25/3) (ANTARA/Ahmadi)

CENTRAL BANGKA - The Government of Central Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands, has sown thousands of black tilapia freshwater fish seeds in "mining pits" (pits formerly mined for tin ore) which have been managed to become aquaculture ponds.

"We spread 2,500 black tilapia seeds in a pond belonging to the Beluluk Village Pokdakan which has succeeded in cultivating freshwater fisheries based on the ex-tin ore mining pit," said Central Bangka Regent Algafry Rahman as reported by ANTARA, Friday, March 24.

The Regent said the dispersal of thousands of freshwater fish seedlings was a form of encouragement from the local government for cultivators who have succeeded in innovating in the fisheries sector, namely using the pits as fish ponds.

"So far, mining pit is synonymous with environmental damage, a nesting place for malaria mosquitoes and a trigger for critical land, but for the Beluluk Village Pokdakan it has been successfully utilized and has economic value," he said.

The development of mining pit-based aquaculture carried out by the Kejora PL Kejora Water Pokdakan Beluluk Village should be used as an example.

"They should be exemplary by other freshwater fish cultivators to be developed elsewhere. The Kejora PL Water Pokdakan has managed to harvest tens of tons and we are again helping to spread new seeds," he said.

The head of the Central Bangka Fisheries Service, Imam Soehadi, said that the mining pit has the potential to be developed into a freshwater aquaculture pond.

"Every sub-district and even villages in Central Bangka have pits that are no longer mined and are tens of years old. Of course, these can be used as fish ponds if processed and managed properly," he said.

Imam hopes that he can preserve fishery resources and that former tin ore mining holes can be transformed into fish ponds.

"This has economic value and sustainable fisheries utilization," he said.