Govt Needs Fishermen Testimony

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan 3/1 (AntaranewsKalsel) - Head of South Kalimantan Marine and Fisheries Agency Syaiful asked Kotabaru district government to collect testimonies related to fishing gear aid from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to the local fishermen.

"Because of the information we received, fishermen in Kotabaru can still receive the fishing gear," he said after attending a plenary session of the provincial legislative council (DPRD) in Banjarmasin on Wednesday.

"Indeed we plan to cooperate with students of the Faculty of Fisheries University of Lambung Mangkurat Banjarmasin for` one day fishing` with Kotabaru fishermen, "he told AntaranewsKalsel.

However, he continued, the cooperation plan was canceled, because Kotabaru fishermen could receive the fishing gear aid.

"But for verification, we ask Kotabaru give testimony on fishing equipment aid from the ministry to Bumi Sa-ijaan (Sa-ijaan is Kotabaru motto from Banjar language which means seia-sekata or harmonious and bumi means earth or the land of) fishermen," he said.

Regarding the amount of aid that is still lacking, he said, the aid will continue. Because fishing equipment help is environmentally friendly, not to drain the depleted marine and fishery resources.

"The purpose of fishing gear provision through the ministry to preserve marine and fishery resources as an inheritance to the children and grandchildren or future generations," said Syaiful.

Of the 13 districts and cities in South Kalimantan, five of them are pockets of fishermen, namely Kotabaru, Tanah Bumbu, Tanah Laut, Banjar, and Barito Kuala (Batola).