EAST BELITUNG -- To protect the marine ecosystem and improve fishermen’s catch, PT Timah, together with the coastal fishermen group of Buku Limau Island, sank 36 squid attractors in the waters of Buku Limau, East Belitung Regency last week.
The sinking of the squid attractors by PT Timah is expected not only to help preserve the marine ecosystem but also to have an economic impact on local fishermen. The hope is that these attractors will become a habitat for squids, making it easier for fishermen to catch them.
Previously, PT Timah also involved the Buku Limau fishermen group in producing the squid attractors, thereby providing economic benefits during the construction phase.
The head of the Buku Limau coastal fishermen group, Amirudin, said the installation of these squid attractors is highly needed, as they have had to sail far to catch squid.
"We are happy with the sinking of these squid attractors. If this works after monitoring, we won't need to go far to catch squid anymore. Until now, we’ve had to go quite far out to find them," he said.
According to him, the presence of these squid attractors not only increases their catch but also saves on fuel consumption for fishing trips.
"We usually have to go far out to sea, which requires a lot of fuel, and fuel prices keep rising. But now, with these squid attractors sunk just 1 mile away, it's not only closer, but we can also save on fuel," he explained.
Going forward, he hopes this program can continue so that more fishermen can benefit.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of Buku Limau Village, Muhammad Agung, expressed appreciation for PT Timah’s initiative to sink squid attractors in their area, which he believes will greatly benefit the fishing community.
"Around 90 percent of our residents work as fishermen. We hope this program can increase their income because up to now, our fishermen have had to go quite far to catch squid," he said.
