PANGKALPINANG -- PT TIMAH (Persero) Tbk continues to strengthen its support for the welfare of fishing communities across its operational areas through various empowerment programs. This support includes fishing equipment assistance, social protection, infrastructure development to support fishing activities, and efforts to preserve the sustainability of coastal ecosystems.
PT TIMAH implements various programs to help improve fishermen’s productivity while creating a coastal environment that supports the sustainability of local livelihoods. These efforts are also part of the company’s community empowerment initiatives aimed at ensuring that local economic potential can continue to develop sustainably.
One form of support for fishermen is the provision of fishing equipment. In 2026, PT TIMAH once again provided fishing equipment assistance to fishing groups, including the Sungai Ulim Fishermen’s Group in Pulau Besar Village, South Bangka Regency.
Similar assistance was also provided to fishermen in Sawang Urban Village, West Kundur District, Karimun Regency, Riau Islands. A total of 30 fishing nets were distributed to help traditional fishermen increase their catch.
Jumari, Chairman of the Sawang Urban Village Fishermen’s Association, said the assistance has been very helpful to local fishermen, most of whom still rely on small traditional boats as their primary means of going to sea.
“Alhamdulillah, we used the assistance from PT TIMAH to purchase fishing nets for the fishermen. The nets were selected according to their needs, particularly for catching biang and lome fish,” Jumari said.
According to Jumari, unpredictable catches also cause fishermen’s incomes to fluctuate. Therefore, fishing equipment assistance is valuable in helping them maintain their productivity.
“When the nets are still new, fish are more easily caught in them. So, we hope this assistance can help increase the fishermen’s catch,” he said.
Support for fishermen is not limited to increasing their catches. PT TIMAH also facilitates access to social protection for fishing communities through enrollment in the BPJS Employment social security program.
This protection is particularly important given the inherent risks associated with fishing activities. Social security coverage provides fishermen and their families with protection when they encounter work-related risks.
In addition to social protection, support is also provided through the construction and improvement of infrastructure that facilitates the activities of coastal communities.
In Batu Kodok, South Bangka Regency, for example, PT TIMAH supported the construction of a pedestrian access path for fishermen. The approximately 100-meter walkway serves as the main access route for fishermen to reach their boats, particularly during high tide.
Sukur, a representative of Batu Kodok fishermen, said the walkway has made their activities easier, safer, and more convenient.
“From the beginning, this walkway was built specifically to provide access for fishermen. During high tide, this path makes it easier, more comfortable, and safer for us to reach our boats,” he said.
Infrastructure support is also increasingly important as the Batu Kodok area develops into a tourist destination. This development has increased the need for well-organized access so that tourism activities and fishermen’s daily activities can coexist.
The empowerment of fishing communities also goes hand in hand with efforts to protect coastal ecosystems, as the sustainability of fishermen’s livelihoods is inseparable from the condition of marine resources.
One such initiative is the restocking of mangrove crabs. On September 16, 2026, PT TIMAH, through its Kundur Area Division, together with the Gemuruh Village Government and local communities, released 1,000 juvenile mangrove crabs into the waters of West Kundur, Riau Islands.
The mangrove crab restocking program is one of the efforts to help maintain populations of coastal species that have both ecological and economic value for local communities.
Idris, a fisherman from Gemuruh Village, welcomed the initiative. According to him, mangrove crabs are closely linked to the livelihoods of coastal communities and therefore their populations need to be maintained. He added that mangrove crabs have considerable economic value, meaning that sustaining their populations could provide economic benefits to coastal communities.
He said fishermen have already begun to experience the benefits of similar activities carried out previously. While at sea, they have increasingly encountered relatively large crabs.
“Some time ago, we also began to see the impact of this program. When we went out to sea, we started finding several fairly large crabs more frequently, and they also have good economic value,” he said.
He hopes the juvenile crabs released this time will grow and reproduce successfully so that local communities can benefit from the program over the long term.
“Perhaps we will see the results of this activity several years from now. Hopefully, the juvenile crabs we released will survive and reproduce well, so that eventually they can have a positive impact on fishermen in this area,” he said.
Similar programs form part of PT TIMAH’s efforts to restore and sustain coastal ecosystems across its operational areas. In addition to mangrove crab restocking, the company also carries out mangrove planting, squid restocking in the waters around Bangka Island, as well as the development of fishing grounds and coral gardens.
Support for coastal communities also extends to other aspects of daily life. PT TIMAH, in collaboration with the Karimun Police, for example, provided decent housing assistance under the Rumah Tinggal Layak Huni (RTLH) program to Irwan, a fisherman from Bukit Senang Village, West Kundur District.
These various forms of support demonstrate that empowering fishing communities is not only about increasing catches, but also encompasses social protection, supporting infrastructure, housing conditions, and the sustainability of coastal environments.
In 2025, PT TIMAH also provided assistance to more than a dozen fishing groups across its operational areas in the Bangka Belitung Islands, Riau, and Riau Islands provinces. (*)
