KARIMUN -- PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk continues to support community empowerment in coastal areas by strengthening fishermen’s livelihoods. One of these efforts is through the provision of fishing equipment to the Sawang Village Fishermen’s Association in West Kundur District, Karimun Regency, Riau Islands Province.
The assistance, in the form of fishing nets, will be used by the fishermen’s group to catch biang and lome fish. A total of 30 fishermen are beneficiaries of the assistance from PT TIMAH.
The assistance is expected to increase fish catches as the fishermen’s main source of income. This is particularly important as the beneficiaries are traditional fishermen.
Chairman of the Sawang Village Fishermen’s Association, Jumari, said the assistance has been very helpful to fishermen, especially amid uncertain fishing yields.
“Alhamdulillah, we are using the assistance from PT TIMAH to purchase fishing nets for the fishermen. The nets were purchased according to the fishermen’s needs, namely to catch biang and lome fish,” Jumari said.
He explained that the Sawang Village Fishermen’s Association has more than 100 members. However, for this assistance, the association prioritized 30 fishermen who are actively fishing and rely primarily on their catch for their livelihoods.
According to Jumari, the majority of fishermen in Sawang Village are traditional fishermen who use small boats as their primary means of fishing in the waters around West Kundur.
Uncertain catches also cause fishermen’s incomes to fluctuate. When catches are plentiful, fishermen can earn a better income. However, there are times when they return home with limited catches.
“Most of the fishermen here are still traditional fishermen. They use small boats to make a living at sea. Their catches are also unpredictable. When the catch is larger, their income is naturally better,” he said.
Jumari said the fishing nets were requested because fishermen needed proper fishing equipment. Some of the nets they had been using were already damaged due to frequent use.
He further explained that purchasing new nets is quite costly for fishermen. The cost of one net, including the production labor, can reach around Rp500,000. Through this assistance, each fisherman receives approximately five nets.
“Buying one net, including the labor cost, can cost nearly Rp500,000. Now, each fisherman can receive five nets. This is very helpful because many of the old nets are already damaged,” he explained.
He said the need for fishing equipment was quite urgent for the fishermen. With new nets, they can carry out their fishing activities more effectively.
“With new nets, fish are more likely to get caught. So, we hope this can help increase fishermen’s catches. We really need them. It’s not that we can’t afford to buy them ourselves, but there are still many other needs that have to be prioritized. Moreover, fishermen’s catches are unpredictable,” he said.
According to him, the presence of company activities and the livelihoods of coastal communities can coexist when built on communication and synergy.
“I choose to remain positive. West Kundur is also an area where fishermen make their living. If everyone can understand one another, avoid interfering with each other, and have the intention to help, we should be able to work together and create synergy,” he said.
He hopes the support provided by PT TIMAH will continue to benefit the community while encouraging stronger synergy between the company and communities around its operational areas.
“Hopefully, the company will continue to grow and advance so that it can contribute to the country and the community, allowing us all to benefit together,” he concluded. (*)
