KARAWANG, KOMPAS - The government should strengthen the ability of fishermen so that they can continue to go to sea and increase their catch, while anticipating fish theft by large ships.

Efforts to direct fishermen to switch professions to aquaculture are considered not easy and ineffective to help fishermen anticipate difficulties at sea due to extreme weather waters.

This is a summary of the opinions expressed by the Head of the Cultivation Department of the All Indonesian Fishermen's Association (HNSD) Muhamad Husen in Karawang and the management of the Muara Angke Traditional Fishermen's Union, Azis, in Jakarta, Wednesday (7/21).

Often fail

Husen said that efforts to invite fishermen to switch to aquaculture have been tried several times, but often fail. This is because it is difficult for fishermen to change their habits, apply cultivation techniques, and manage business continuity.

""It is not easy to change the culture of fishing to aquaculture because the two are very different. However, efforts to direct fishermen to aquaculture can still be taken to reduce the negative impacts of climate change. The condition is that it must be supported by a program strategy, and good implementers, "he said.

He cited the example of southern West Java fishermen who tried to cultivate fish in drift nets at the mouths of rivers They eventually returned to the but and abandoned cultivation with drift nets because they failed to manage the business.

According to Husen, with better technology of fishing gear, and boats, fishermen's ability to go to sea will be better. Their catch area will also be wider so that the potential catch is more and the ability to deal with weather conditions is better.

Skills and capital

Meanwhile. efforts to shift to aquaculture are considered ineffective to help fishermen anticipate difficulties at sea due to extreme weather due to the lack of fishermen's skills and business capital.

Azis argued that the effort to transfer fishermen to aquaculture clearly requires capital. Meanwhile, until now fishermen have always been hampered by access to business capital.

In addition, it is not easy to switch to aquaculture because small fishermen do not have the skills. The water condition factor also determines the success of aquaculture.

""Do not let the cultivation business actually cause a greater risk of failure. For this reason, skill counseling and adequate water conditions are needed,"" he said.

Azis added that small fishermen need more support for facilities and infrastructure for fishing, such as the supply of subsidized fuel oil and technological equipment, such as fish detection devices, for example a global positioning system (GPS) locator to facilitate the search for fish in bad weather conditions.

No stopping

Chairman of Commission IV of the House of Representatives Achmad Muqowam pointed out that fishery-producing countries are currently also facing similar climate change impacts, but capture fishery activities have not stopped because their fleet support is strong.

Therefore, the handling of fishermen should not hit competitiveness. The most effective effort to help fishermen deal with the impact of extreme weather is with the help of fisheries facilities, infrastructure, facilities, and infrastructure.

""Efforts to divert fishermen to aquaculture will certainly reduce fishing activities so that it will trigger the rampant theft of fish by foreign ships on the high seas,"" he said. (MKN UCD