By Wahju Subachri & Zainudin Syahputra
Various stakeholders are determined to work together to achieve an environmentally friendly tilapia farming in Lake Toba. The idea brought WWF-Indonesia to initiate the meeting with the purpose of bringing together players of floating cages cultivation and related institutions who have authorities to make policies to exchange informations and experience to improve the understanding of farmers in Lake Toba. The meeting was held in Parapat View Hotel in Simalungun District on March 28th 2014 with participants coming from tilapia floating cages cultivation players and hatcheries. It was also attended by representative from government institutions such as Fishery Field Officer Department of Marine and Fisheries, Simalungun Department of Fisheries and Livestock, Lake Toba Ecosystem Protection Agency (BKPEDT) and North Sumatra Province Technical Executing Unit of Hatchery Department of Marine and Fisheries.

This program consists of explanation on Better Management Practices (BMP), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) ecolabeling, group strengthening, zonation, and supply of premium grade of fries. Head of North Sumatra Province Technical Executing Unit of Hatchery Department of Marine and Fisheries Zonny Waldi stated that Lake Toba is used as a water and fishery transportation means, aside from tourist attraction. With that in mind, it is important for the people to maintain the environment. One of the way is to minimize the impact caused by aquaculture activities such as remaining feeds and fish wastes.

BKPEDT representative Ardhi Kusno said that zonation establishment is badly needed in Lake Toba, and hope all stakeholders could sit down and discuss the zoning formation to divide the cultivation-purpose area and tourism area.

WWF-Indonesia also gave explanations on an environmentally friendly cultivation practices to the farmers such as breeding, caring and harvesting. A follow-up action of recruiting farmers to cooperate in purpose to establish an example for other farmers. A local facilitator is equipped with water quality measurement tools so the tilapia farmers could monitor their water to predict what action they have to take to avoid fish death caused by environmental degradation. All parties were eager to support this program and hope that it can be continued in the future.

For further information, a local facilitator could be contacted: Zainuddin Syahputra (082166846063).
 

Translated by Imanda Pradana