Tarno, a fisherman in Muara Angke, North Jakarta shares his view on increased price fuel.
With dwindling fish stock and the recent increase of subsidized fuel price, small-time fishermen with old boats are forced to give up their livelihood if the government does not step in to give them more financial help. Their incomes are drastically reduced, sometimes even making a loss, from fishing.
Tarno, a fisherman in Muara Angke, North Jakarta, said nowadays, it is difficult to catch a decent amount of fish. Even before the government announced the increase of subsidized fuel price, fishermen already had a hard time making ends meet. Now, they are considering leaving their livelihood, the only livelihood they know all their lives, and look for other jobs to support their families.
“We need 200 to 400 liters of diesel, one way, for every fishing trip, which last around seven days, sometimes more if we have to stay longer at sea because we did not find enough fish. The price of mackerel, the kind of fish we usually catch, is only IDR 20,000 (US$1.34) per kilogram. Therefore, if we do not catch enough fish to cover our cost, we will make a loss,” said Tarno.
