Fishermen To Celebrate Fisherman's Day Through Various Activities

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesian traditional fishermen across the country will hold various activities to celebrate National Fisherman's Day 2015 on Monday.

They will hold the activities in various regions focusing on how to improve the welfare of fishermen who are still suffering in poverty.

"Fishermen will simultaneously observe the National Fisherman's Day 2015 across the country such as in Banda Aceh, Buton, Manado, Semarang and Jakarta," Secretary General of the People's Coalition For Fishery Justice (Kiara) Abdul Halim said here on Monday.

He said that the celebration of the fisherman's day was intended to push the government to protect and improve the welfare of Indonesian fishermen.

Thus, he said, the theme of the event reads: "Protect and Improve the Welfare of Indonesian Fishermen."  He reminded that the government of Jako Widodo - Jusuf Kalla had announced its maritime axis development concept and since then, the marine and and fisheries issues had always attracted the attention of the people.

The people continue to pay attention to measures that the government has taken since early this year such as trawl use ban, foreign boat sinking and cases involving fishing ships' crew members.

"But with the current conditions of Indonesia's marine and maritime, have the Indonesian fisherman's welfare been improved?" he questioned.

He said the fact in the field was that fishermen, fish breeders and coastal preservation workers still lacked protection and still lived in poverty. Halim is of the view that fisherman's condition was even worsened by fuel oil and basic necessities' price increases. (WDY)