BANGKA – The Nahdlatul Ulama Fishermen's Union (SNNU) of Bangka Regency together with PT Timah Tbk drowned dozens of FADs of fish into Sungailiat Waters, Bangka, Wednesday (4/8/2021). PT Timah Tbk involved and empowered SNNU to make FADs of fish to drown them.
Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Fishermen's Union (SNNU) of Bangka Regency, Lukman said that initially PT Timah Tbk through its CSR, handed over cash assistance for the manufacture of FADs involving fishermen groups and the Babel Police.
Lukman said, as many as 27 units of FADs were sunk with fishermen consisting of 20 units of basic FADs and seven units of floating FADs. These FADs were sunk about 5 miles from the shore. So that later it is hoped that the fish can live in these FADs and fishermen will not have to go far to find fish.
“Yesterday 27 FADs were drowned, this was done together. We also make this FAD for about five days. The fishermen group together with Polman worked together to make it from the funds provided by PT Timah Tbk," he said, Thursday (5/8/2021).
Furthermore, Lukman said that they will maintain these FADs, not just drown them. According to him, for floating FADs for about seven days, fish usually start to come. As for the basic FADs, it takes about one to three months for fish to catch them.
"The FADs that drowned were indeed included in the fishing zone, and the fishermen knew about it. This FAD has many benefits for fishermen. First, fishermen do not need to be confused anymore to go around looking for fish because they already have a purpose. Then the distance for fishermen to be closer, and thirdly, it can increase fishermen's catches," he said.
He appreciated the steps taken by PT Timah Tbk for cooperating with SNNU Bangka to create and sink FADs. He hopes that in the future more people will do the same. Because, this can help increase the catch of fishermen.
“We say thank PT Timah Tbk for collaborating, because this FAD is really needed by fishermen. We hope that PT Timah Tbk can also continue to support fishing activities,” he said.
He mentioned that SNNU Bangka has a program to sink 100 FADs, but currently only 30 FADs have been realized. Therefore, he hopes that stakeholders including PT Timah Tbk can again help them to create and drown out the FADs.
“We are synergizing with stakeholders so that this program can continue and the target of 100 FADs can be achieved. So that later the greater the benefits that can be felt by fishermen with the increasing number of FADs or fish houses," he concluded.
