Kandangan, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The South Hulu Sungai (HSS) District Government through the Fisheries Agency has announced the prohibition of using electric stun or fish poison in catching fish and the ban on selling fish seedlings or baby fish (caught from open space, such as paddy field) for consumption.
Head of the agency H Saidinoor here on Thursday (Jan 30, 2020) stated, the violation to the ban will be objected to imprisonment or a maximum fine of IDR50 million.
This notification, he remarked, is as a follow-up to the district's Regional Regulation (Perda) No. 17 year 2005, concerning protection of fish resources and prohibition of using electric stun tools, fish poison or potassium, or the likes.
"The breaking of the regulation will be punishable for a maximum of six months of imprisonment or a maximum fine of IDR50 million. We need to notify to all the residents of HSS and it has been disseminated since January 2020," he pointed out.
He explained that if the misdeed of trading fish seedlings or baby fish or the using of electric stun are considered to endanger the preservation of fish resources and environment then Law 45 year 2009 about the change of law 31/2004 over fisheries will take effect to carry a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of IDR2 billion.
Read also: WHO to set HSS a review area for HIV/AIDS prevention
He elaborated kinds of local fish seedling prohibited to catch for trading for consumption are snakehead fish (gabus or locally known as haruan), giant snakehead fish (tauman), climbing perch (betok or locally known as papuyu), biawan (Helostoma Temminck), and sepat siam (Trichogaster pectoralis).
Previously, the agency officers together with Satpol PP (Public Order Agency) conducted raid to fish seedling traders at two markets, Pasar Subuh (early morning market) at Kandangan Bus Terminal and Sirih Market in Kalumpang. They only made a persuasive approachments.
"Fish seedling or baby fish they sold were all confiscated to then return them to their habitat, some rivers around their activities," he said.
Read also: HSS' schools clean up, eradicate mosquito nest
Read also: HSS declares alert status on flood, landslide, tornado
