1

Acknowledgement
TELAPAK would like to express its gratitude to the
following organizations and individuals for their
assistance and time in working together and discussing
the substantial development of the report, while stressing
that the content of the report is the sole responsibility of
Telapak:

Yascita Kendari, YARI-Kendari, YBN-Bali, Lakpesdam

Makassar, FDC-IPB, Department of Marine Affairs and
Fisheries, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Service of SE
Sulawesi , YLL Medan, HIVLAK- Tual, Asprida-
Ruteng, I Wayan Patut, The local communities of Bajo
Indah-Kendari, Les-Bali, Sembilan Islands-South
Sulawesi, Wakatobi-SE Sulawesi, Kukusan- Labuan
Bajo, Thousand Islands, Jaring PELA, INCoM and
PT Bahtera LEStari.

Telapak would also like to thank all the community

groups, NGOs, and individuals who have worked with
TELAPAK on the issues of destructive fishing and coral
reef, whose name cannot be written one by one.

Telapak would also like to thank The David and Lucille

Packard Foundation and Rockefeller Brothers Fund for
their kind support in Marine Monitoring Program
(ProMOLA) of TELAPAK, which makes it possible for
this book to be published.

Cover and Back Cover Photos

copyright © Telapak
Photographers
Hapsoro, M. Imran Amin, M. Taufik Wahab, Rama Dian Bakti dan Ridzki R Sigit
Design
TELAPAK dan Matoa Creative Design
Translators
Azyana Sunkar dan A. Ruwindrijarto and Mardi Minangsari
Editor
Arifuddin, Hapsoro, Mardi Minangsari dan Ridzki R. Sigit
Writers
M. Imran Amin, M. Taufik Wahab, Nanang Sujana

2
 Contents
9 Promising Coral Reef

11 Threats to Coral Reefs

Destruction

14 The Toxic Sea of the Island of

the Gods

21 Bajo Indah, Poverty Leading

to Disaster

27 Toxic on the Eastern Sea

32 Ponggawa, Juragan and Sawi

in Sembilan Island

39 Intergenerational and Nature

Elements Equity

46 Telapak and Coastal and

Marine Management Policies

© Telapak

3
 The Buried Pearl

When the red sun risen over the eastern horizon

Sounds of crickets fading
The Islanders are on their boat
Sailing knitting waves

Fragments of coral reefs

Covering the yellow sand granules
Carpeted with sea grass
Crowned with colorful sea creatures

.................................

Redite, 22 June 2003

I Wayan Patut

Photographer : M. Imran Amin/Telapak

4Location : Makasar - South Sulawesi
 Preface
If you spend a few days on Bokori Island – Kendari, for example, then you will be familiar with the
sound of blast fishing which the local people do to catch fish every day. Or perhaps you want to visit
the coral reefs in the eastern Indonesian waters, then you will notice several boats equipped with
compressors supplying oxygen to the divers who are busy spraying cyanide on fishes hiding inside and
between the reefs. The above two examples show how destructive fishing still occurs unhindered.
The same activities unfortunately have been practiced elsewhere in Indonesia. In fact, field data shows
that more than 50% of reef fish production (both for consumption and ornamental purposes) is
caught using these destructive techniques. It has been five decades since this problem first arose and it
keeps going on unabated with even increasing intensity,

These practices not only destruct the fish habitat but also serve as a breeding ground for corruption,
collusion and nepotism for several law enforcers. It is general knowledge to the fishermen that
the immorality of our law enforcers is one factor why such problem is difficult to handle.
The monitoring and enforcement operations carried out are in fact become the means to blackmail
the fishermen involved in destructive fishing, which in this case do not tackle the problem but further
stimulate such practice, because the fishermen feel that all matters are handled just by paying off
the officers.

Meanwhile, the conditions of the coral reefs are degrading. In several areas, harvests are declining and
poverty is increasing. More children are dropping out of school.
Do we want this condition to continue?

Results from several assistance activities carried out by Telapak and its partners show that government
efforts to solve the problem of destructive fishing have not yet touch the root of the problem itself. On
the contrary, they are stimulating new opportunities to increase such activities. Legal measures taken
perceive the fish catching actors as potential source of money. Even if they were arrested, only few that
would actually go to court. While on the other hand, the fishermen themselves feel there are no other
alternative livelihoods. What these fishermen need is an opportunity to an alternative source of income
by placing them as objects of reform and not as money resource or objects that must be destroyed.
Under the current system, jail is not the main solution to the problem. Community approach and
assistance that will give them opportunities to reform is the best way to solve this problem.

This book talks about lessons learned from Telapak’s field experiences from 1999 – 2004 in compiling
data and developing collaborative learning process with the fishermen who are actors in destructive
fishing in several regions in Indonesia.

Bogor, June 2004

M. Imran Amin
Program Coordinator
PROMOLA - TELAPAK

5
 © Telapak

D
estructive Fishing is the root problem of coral
reef ecosystem destruction in Indonesia.
Five main human threats to coral reefs, i.e.:
toxic fishing, blast fishing, coral reef extraction,
sedimentation and pollution, and over fishing
although the later does not directly destruct the
coral reefs.1
Indonesia’s 17,000 islands forms the world’s largest
archipelago with more than 95,000 kilometers of coastline and
some 51,000 square kilometers of coral reefs, excluding those
not yet mapped, located in isolated places as well as those in
deeper sea. If the estimation is correct, that means Indonesia
is home to 51% of Southeast Asia’s coral reefs and 18% of the
world’s coral reefs.2
The coral reefs in western Indonesia are severely
threatened by human activities compared to those in the east.
This is supported by field facts of a 1990-1998 survey that
revealed a better condition of coral reefs from west to east.
The reefs in the western part of Indonesia with good or very
good condition (more than 50% live corals coverage) cover
only about 23%, while those in the east cover about 45%.3
Over the next 20 years, the economic loss from blast and
cyanide fishing may reach US$ 570 million and US$ 46
million respectively.4
Telapak in collaboration with several local NGOs, has
conducted field surveys that found many practices of blast and
cyanide fishing. Furthermore, Telapak working together with
the local communities tries to find better solutions to more
environmentally friendly fishing techniques.

6
© Telapak

7
8
© Telapak

Promising
Coral Reef

I
ndonesian fishermen have exploited coral
reefs for a long time. Experts stated that
every square kilometer of coral reef can
yield up to 20,000 – 35,000 tonnes of fish
annually, estimated to give livelihood to 400-
700 people.5 Indonesian coral reefs are
estimated to have a value of US$ 5,800 per
hectare.6
In tropical countries such as Indonesia, the coral reef
ecosystem is closely related to the general marine
resources. The ecosystem indirectly functions as a
buffer in coastal abrasion and is the habitat for many
economically significant marine biota and also serves as
spawning, nursery and feeding ground. Marine
products are also source of protein for many
Indonesians.
Indonesian coral reefs are potential source of
national income as export commodities through
consumption fish, ornamental fish, shell skins,
seaweeds, nature-based marine tourism and traditional
medicines. The total value can amount to US$ 466
million. Especially for ornamental fish, its export
reaches a value of US$ 32 million annually.5

9
10
© Telapak

Threats to
Coral Reefs
Destruction

E
ven with its potentials and great benefits,
the ecosystem faces serious threats. One
of them is destructive fishing such as
cyanide fishing. Several cyanide applications to
certain reef colony have proved to be
destructive to the reef survival.2
Meanwhile, there is a close relationship between
destructive fishing and the fishermen’s low economic
level. The needs to catch more fish and increase family
income are several reasons why the fishermen take
short cut of using toxics to catch more fish. There has
been a transformation in fish catching system in several
places in Indonesia from traditional means, which are
environmentally friendly, to destructive fishing.

© Telapak

11
Development of Cyanide Fishing in Indonesia
Cyanide fishing was introduced as one method of catching reef fish since early
1980s. At that time, the Philippine fishermen started to enter Indonesian waters to
look for ornamental fish not found in their country. They began their operation in
North Sulawesi by introducing and teaching the local fishermen about using cyanide.
From here, this method of destructive fishing has spread to other parts of Indonesia
in line with declining harvest and increasing international market demands
especially from Europe and the US. Furthermore, at the end of 1980s, this
technique has also been used on consumption fish due to increasing demands from
China and Taiwan.

Introduction to Cyanide
Reef fishing using toxics such as organo-phosphate insectice, quinaldine,
ichtyocide rotenone and cyanide has long been known.7

Sodium cyanide —one kind of cyanide used—is a kind of toxic in the form
of salt that has been used world wide, especially in fumigation, electroplating
and mining. The misuse of this chemical in fisheries started around 1960s in
the Philippine, where at the time, there was an increase demand for ornamental
fish from European and American markets.7

Among the toxic chemicals, cyanide is the most popular in live coral fish
catching. Cyanide is mixed with seawater and poured into plastic spray bottle.
When the fish are inside the holes between the corals or coral branch, cyanide
is then sprayed on the target fish. Cyanide causes fast anesthetization leading
to dizziness causing the fish to swim out from its hiding places, thus they can
easily be caught.8

Cyanide fishing causes the break down of the fish enzyme system as
oxygen metabolizer (cytochrome oxidase) and psychological function of the
fish and invertebrates. Cyanide also causes damages in liver network, spleen,
heart and brain of fish.9 Cyanide fishing is believed to have caused the death of
more than 80% of exported ornamental fish.

12
© Telapak

Cyanide is easily found at local stores such as at dealer shops and chemical stores,
with local average price of Rp 40,000 – Rp 50,000 per kilogram.
Telapak’s investigation in 1998-2002
revealed that there are at least 80% of
ornamental fish and 50% of consumption
fish experience death at the collection site
and during transportation.
Other than having direct impact on
target fish, sprayed cyanide has destructive
impact on the surrounding ecosystem and
kills many juvenile fishes and other
smaller marine biota. This results in mass
bleaching of coral reefs resulting in death.
Coral’s death due to cyanide spray is very
different from those due to drastic water
temperature change. One spray of cyanide
(about 20 cc) can kill a total of 5 x 5 square
meters of coral reefs within 3 – 6
months.10

13
© Telapak - FDC
The Toxic Sea of
the Island
of the Gods
© YBN - Telapak
1Location
4 : Les Beach - Bali
B
ali is nationally and internationally well recognized in the
tourism industry. In fact the international world is more
familiar with Bali than Indonesia itself. Bali is also famous as
the Island of the Gods due to its beautiful scenery and unique
traditions. However, Telapak with the local NGOs recognized that the
high number of tourists and the good accessibility of the island are not
able to compensate for the coral reef destruction rate in the
surrounding waters. Bali, in fact, is well known as an island producing
ornamental and consumption fish.

15
 Photographer : M. Taufik Wahab/Telapak
1 6Location : Les Beach - Bali
 © Telapak

The vast overseas demands for ornamental fish has

pushed the start of fishing practice through fish
anesthetization using cyanide which was introduced by the
fishermen from Banyuwangi, East Java. They introduce this
destructive method of fishing in several areas in Bali and
also become the actors in cyanide fishing along with their
coworkers from madura and Lombok. As a result, the Bali
fishermen who previously never applied cyanide are now
using it. In several areas in the District of Buleleng, such as
in the waters near Bali Barat National Park and in the Sub
District of Tejakula, many cyanide fishing were found due to
high market demands.

17
© Telapak

The availability of international Cyanide fishing also occurs within

airport seems to influence the high conservation areas. The water of the
demands for ornamental and Bali Barat National Park on the west tip
consumption fish from Bali. This of Bali is known as one of the places
island is also known as the gateway for where reef extraction and blast fishing
ornamental and consumption fish from take place. A collaborative observation
other parts in eastern Indonesia for between Telapak and the local NGOs,
export purposes. This is supported by suggests that cyanide fishing is practiced
the fact that there is an increasing on several fishermen villages around
number of ornamental and the Park, i.e.: Gilimanuk, Banyuwedang
consumption fish exporters in Bali. Up Bay, Terima Bay, Lumpur Bay and
to the year of 2000, there were at least Pemuteran. The cyanide that they use
50 – 60 legal and illegal exporters in can easily be bought from construction
Bali while a decade ago there were only shops at the nearest town (Singaraja).
five (Fisheries Service and Bali The high number of cyanide users can
Quarantine). also be identified by the high number of
18
live fish collectors for
consumption and
ornamental fish. In
Gilimanuk Village there
are as many as 30
collectors and in Sumber
Kima Village up to 50-70
people. Most of the catch
from these villages are
then transported to
Denpasar and Banyuwangi
for export.
Especially in the
District of Buleleng, these
practices of destructive
fishing have made the
local fishermen disregard
their customary law. The
high demands for
ornamental and
consumption fish have
made them turned to
destructive fishing,
whereas in fact, this area
was previously known as
an area that highly values
customary law and
perceives the sea as a “holy
place” that must be © Telapak - FDC
protected. This has
occurred at least in the
Sub-Districts of Gerokgak, Buleleng and the investors are able to press the
Tejakula (see more informations about buying price of the fish. In year 2000,
Tejakula in page 41). In fact, the local in the Sub-District of Tejakula, a live
investors are able to give easy access to ornamental or consumption fish can be
fishing and basic diving equipments to bought for only Rp 500 – Rp 2,000
the fishermen. With these facilities, each.
19
 Photographer : M. Imran Amin/Telapak
2Location
0 : Bajo Indah - Southeast Sulawesi
 Bajo Indah,
poverty leading to disaster
Bajo Indah is the name of a village Historically, the Local Government
located on the coast of Southeast relocated this village from its original
Sulawesi, in the Sub-District of Soropia, place in Bokori Island – a small island in
within the District of Kendari. This Kendari Bay. The migration of the
village is one of the poor villages in this Bokori people to this new place caused
province. Most of the fishermen come controversy, because the island was
from Bajo ethnic group who rely on turned into a tourist island. As a result,
fishing as their main source of livelihood the local people who are traditional
as fisherman labor and fish collector. fishermen can no longer utilize
21
 ... poverty caused the Bajo Indah people to do
everything they can to get out of poverty,
including the practice of cyanide fishing ...

Photographer : M. Taufik Wahab/Telapak

2Location
2 : Bajo Indah - Southeast Sulawesi
23
 © Telapak - FDC
Location : Thousand Island National Park

the surrounding marine resources transformed to a better way of catching),

anymore. Poverty caused the Bajo Indah causing the coral reef in Kendari Bay to
people to do everything they can to get be further damaged. It is now more
out of poverty, including the practice of difficult to get fish in surrounding waters
cyanide fishing. compared to the first time when the
The local people were introduced to technique was applied.
cyanide fishing in 1991 when some of Cyanide fishermen have broadened
the local fishermen worked onboard live their fishing ground to faraway places
fish ship from Hongkong. When these such as the Wakatobi waters in the tip
ships stopped operating in the waters of of Southeast Sulawesi and Banggai
Kendari, the fishermen continued such waters in Central Sulawesi. They have
practice. It has been going on even until to spend two days to one week on the
now (only one group of them has already sea to catch fish.
24
© Telapak - FDC

25
 Photographer : Ridzki R. Sigit/Telapak
2Location
6 : Sembilan Island - South Sulawesi
 Toxic on
the Eastern Sea

T
he waters of eastern Indonesia are heaven for fish. The Islands of Maluku
are well known as an area with abundant marine resources, as well as a
recognized marine tourism destination. Through collaboration with the
local NGOs and fishermen communities in Maluku, Telapak has conducted several
investigations on cyanide fishing on several islands in the Southeast Maluku – now
known as West Southeast Maluku. This group of at least 24 islands has long been
known as one of the producing sites for fish and other marine products in Maluku.
Together with a local NGO in Tual, Telapak focus their investigation and
monitoring activities in Kei Island and Luang Island in the southwest of Southeast
Maluku.

27
 The high biodiversity along with a the local traditional fishermen. Most of
number of reef islands in Southeast the fishing companies practice fishing
Maluku, have become very attractive for techniques that are not environmentally
the local as well as overseas investors. friendly. Trawl, bomb and cyanide are
The existence of many big fisheries used in customary fishing ground of the
companies and the operations of foreign local fishermen. For the fishermen,
fishing ships are very common in cyanide fishing has direct impacts on the
Southeast Maluku. Unfortunately, the quantity and quality of sea harvest, such
presence of these investors brings some as coral reef destruction and death of
negative impacts on the marine seaweeds and shells, while for most of
conservation and the economy of the women, sea products are beyond fish.

Kei Island,
communities opposition
to cyanide
Cyanide fishing has been practiced in then, when the local NGOs together
Kei Island since the establishment of with the communities opposed to such
Mina Sanega Company in 1990, which practices through the traditional
was then followed by the establishment institutions, got the attention from local
of local companies. It was a big issue government. Unfortunately, the issue of

© Telapak

28
cyanide fishing was
forgotten when there was a
mass riot at the end of
1999.
In Dulla Laut Island or
also known as Duroa,
cyanide fishing has resulted
in the horizontal conflict
between the traditional
fishermen. The declining
© Telapak
sea harvest due to this kind
of fishing technique has
made them enter the petuanan1 belong The local government has taken
to other fishermen community. The some measures to combat destructive
local fishermen who use this destructive fishing through enforcement operations.
method confessed that they were Unfortunately, the necessary
expelled or captured by other fishermen prosecutions rarely follow such
community whose petuanan has been operations. While on field, divers using
trespassed. cyanide have changed their method of
diving to prevent the
© Telapak - FDC arrest during
enforcement
operation. Those using
compressor for
breathing aid, now
turn to traditional
diving technique, i.e.
without compressor.
This method is
especially applied on
areas that can still be
reached by diving
without breathing aids
equipments.

1
Petuanan is a natural resources management area ruled by the local customary law, which includes both
land and sea

29
 Adjacent to Dulla Laut, is Kei Kecil suspected to work for a live fish boss
Island, where cyanide fishing has also named Hans Sitaneli. This
experienced some transformation. transformation of fish catching is due to
Previously the activity took place in the an increasing community awareness to
afternoon but currently it occurs at night protect the surrounding coral reefs by
with the help of speedboat, compressor applying sasi 2with secure control and
and diving torch. These night divers are monitoring.

© Telapak - FDC
Location : Thousand Island National Park

Equipments in Cyanide Fishing

Fishermen get cyanide either by purchasing or supplied by the investors.
Most of these toxic chemicals are in the form of tablets. The cyanide tablet
is then dissolved with sea water after being crushed. This crushed cyanide
is inserted into a small container filled with sea water at certain volume.
This solution is placed into a sprayed bottle that will be carried by divers to
catch fish.
Generally, traditional cyanide fishermen always use:
! Simple diving equipments consisting of diving mask, dive weights and fins.
! Breathing aid equipments: regulator, hose (can reach 40 m), and
compressor located on a boat or ship.
! Fishing equipments consisting of: cyanide spray bottle, small fish scoop,
and closed bucket for fish collection
! Temporary fish collection site on board the boat or fishing ship.

30
Luang Island,
institutional change for a toxic live fish industry
Luang Island is located at the tip of CV. Rimraya Indah. However, the
southwest of Southeast Maluku. Its damage done could not stop the local
remote location makes it and other opposition, which again forced the new
surrounding smaller islands almost free company to get out from Luang Island.
from control. Because this cluster of Currently, a local named Jack Miru
islands produces the greatest sea harvest carries out live fish company in Luang
in Southeast Maluku, therefore it is Island. In carrying out his business, he
not surprising that Luang Island was works together with fish trader from
once used as operating area from two Tual named Riky Tamnge. Based on the
fishery companies that collect fish from confession of the local communities, this
cyanide fishing. One of the industries local company offers a higher price than
even manages to rename its industry the previous three companies.
under the same operation control. Nevertheless, this cannot be regarded as
These two fishery companies are PT. better condition. Even until now, it is
Dinamika Bahari Sejahtera (DBS) and difficult to detect whether a fishery
CV. Sari Manis. They were driven out company uses cyanide or not in its
of the island due to a conflict with the operation. Therefore monitoring and
local communities, although they had control are still necessary because this
approached the local village institutions marine area is very vulnerable to
and traditional chiefs when they first destructive fishing industries.
arrived. Coral reef destruction in the
traditional fishing ground and the
promise of village infrastructure
development that never been granted,
have caused an opposition from the local
communities together with some local
NGOs and students from Luang Island
to drive both companies out of the
island. Although CV. Sari Manis tried
to make a come back under a new name,
© Telapak
2
Sasi is a customary law in Maluku, which regulate the management of natural resources, especially marine
products and coconuts. A person found violating Sasi would be punished.

31
 Ponggawa,
Juragan and Sawi in
Sembilan Island

32
... found a connection between the practice of cyanide fishing and
the local social structure. Generally, the social structure consists of
Ponggawa, Juragan and Sawi ...

Photographer : Ridzki R. Sigit/Telapak

Location : Sembilan Island - South Sulawesi
33
 Photographer : M. Imran Amin/Telapak
3Location
4 : Coral Reef area in Wakatobi Archipelago - Southeast Sulawesi
35
O
n the southwest water of South Sulawesi, there is a cluster of
small islands known as the Sembilan Island. It consists of nine
smaller islands, in accordance with its name that is adopted
from Bugis dialect.3 With its unique characteristics, the surrounding
waters offer a wealth in marine resources. Sembilan Islands encompass
vast coral reef areas, which makes it as one of the production center for
reef fish, sea cucumber and lobster.

Together with a local islands and functions as have long been

NGO in Makassar, the capital of the sub- practicing diving
Telapak has conducted district. technique to catch fish,
monitoring activities on Most of the people in a technique that often
cyanide fishing activities Sembilan Islands rely on use to catch reef fish.
in Sembilan Islands. the marine resources for This practice-like those
The monitoring activity their subsistence and observed by Telapak in
is focused on Kambuno livelihood. Especially other places- is closely
Island, which is located for Kambuno Island, related to cyanide
in the center of the most of the fishermen fishing.

Ponggawa, Juragan and Sawi

Ponggawa is an investor in fishing industry in Kambuno. He gives support in the form
of capital, supplies necessary equipments and other equipments needed for fish
catching. He also supplies packaging as well as other supporting materials including
fish collecting place (karamba – basket for raising fish).

Juragan is a name for the captain of the fishing boat. He has full responsibility to
carry the fishermen to reach target location and bringing home fish harvest to the
collection site. After arrival in the collection site, juragan is also responsible for writing
down his catch.

Sawi is a name for fihermen labour. Generally, sawi are also part of diver team. Inside
a fishing boat, there are about 4-5 sawis.

For overall catch, there is usually a simple mechanism for profit distribution as follows:
! 25% of overall catch will go to the investors to replace operational costs.
! 75% of overall catch will be evenly divided among ponggawa, juragam and sawi.

3
Sembilan Archipelago consists of Kantidoang, Larea-rea, La Poi-Poi, Kanalo, Batanglampe, Kodingare,
Kambuno, Leang-Leang and Burung Loe Islands.

36
 In Kambuno
Island, Telapak with
its local NGO partner
found a connection
between the practice
of cyanide fishing and
the local social
structure. Generally,
the social structure
consists of Ponggawa,
Juragan and Sawi.
From the three
structural positions,
Ponggawa holds a
significant role in
every catching activity
in Kambuno.
© Telapak
Ponggawa is the
investor for every
fishing activity, such as positions because they The biggest portion of
boat/ship, compressor, are only field operators. the profit obviously goes
diving equipments and Juragan is the ship’s to Ponggawa, while Sawi
operational capital. captain and Sawi is has the least profit. Very
While Juragan and Sawi someone who works in often Sawis must bear the
are regarded as lower the ship/diver. direct impact of this
fishing activity.
© Telapak Generally, Sawis are
often in overdue debts to
Ponggawa and suffer the
direct risks of diving.
Information collected by
Telapak and its local
NGO partner found that
there were at least 200
sawi divers who suffered
illness due to diving using
compressor.
37
 ........ main activities carried out by Telapak, which is a
translation of its vision to crease a just natural resources
management.....

Photographer : M. Taufik Wahab/Telapak

3Location
8 : Les Beach - Bali
Intergenerational
and Nature Elements
Equity

39
T
he problems of Indonesian coral reef ecosystem degradation and
their direct impacts on the livelihood of the local fishermen, has
stimulate Telapak, as a Non Government Organization in
environment, to do some improvement efforts. Since it was first
established, Telapak has carried out many improvement efforts for
Indonesian marine and coasts beginning with the monitoring of cyanide
fishing in several places across Indonesia in 1998. These monitoring
activities are carried out in collaboration with the local NGOs. In
practice, Telapak uses the method of investigation in carrying out its
monitoring activities on cyanide fishing. This collaborative monitoring
initiative developed by Telapak has resulted in a coordinated network
of NGOs for marine and coastal issues (PELA Net). Telapak itself
develops a monitoring program in destructive fishing known as
ProMOLA (Marine Monitoring Program).

Photographer : M. Imran Amin/Telapak

4Location
0 : Sembilan Island - South Sulawesi
 For the next step, still in collaboration with local NGOs
in several places, Telapak has also done various field
assistances to cyanide users as part of Telapak’s initiative to
ensure better fish catching activities from the lowest level.
Telapak has also been facilitating in opening market
opportunities for cyanide-free fish through a number of
trainings for traditional fishermen. Telapak believes that
the only way there will ever be any change is by transforming
the actors of such practice into the main actors leading the
reform.
Follows are some main activities carried out by Telapak,
which is a translation of its vision to crease a just natural
resources management, both for intergeneration and nature
elements.

Cyanide- Free Ornamental

Fish from Les Village
In collaboration with Bahtera Nusantara Foundation
(YBN), Telapak has been doing almost all of its overall
programs for a better coastal and marine management in
Les Village located in the
Sub-District of Tejakula- © Telapak

Bali. At the start of the

program, Telapak and YBN
initiated monitoring
activities on cyanide reef
fishing. As the next step,
through community
approach, Telapak/YBN
has assisted the traditional
fishermen to alter their
fishing technique. Other
field activities include:
training on cyanide-free
fishing, ornamental fish
handling, and ornamental
fish products marketing.
41
 ... the local
traditional
fishermen agreed
to form a group of
cyanide-free
fishermen by
the name of Mina
Bhakti Soansari ...

© Telapak

In 2001, the local independently by introduced to them.

traditional fishermen establishing an export Therefore they will not be
agreed to form a group of company in ornamental easily persuaded by
cyanide-free fishermen by fish by the name of PT. numerous opportunities
the name of Mina Bhakti Bahtera LEStari. The that sometimes are not in
Soansari. Telapak/YBN company has managed to line with their needs and
has facilitated this do its first export in 2003. expectations.
fishermen group to do This development has
coral transplantation to made the Les fishermen
restore the coral reef known to the private
conditions which have sectors, local and central Towards
been degraded. Currently,
Mina Bhakti Soansari is
government, even
international institutions.
Integrated
able to develop an However, this is not the Coastal and
ecotourism activity in end of a success. The Marine
collaboration with a dive
operator tour in
strength of the local
people has become the Management
Denpasar. Furthermore, main pre-requisite so that in Sembilan
this group has also started they can have firm Islands
marketing cyanide-free bargaining power to deal
ornamental fish with new things
42
 the cost-benefit of cyanide
fishing. There is also an
opportunity for
cooperation in the future
between the two
fishermen groups. This
way, there is at least an
effort to manage marine
resources independently.
Telapak/Lakpesdam
has also conducted
© Telapak
trainings in
environmentally friendly
fishing techniques in this
island. This activity began
in December 2003 and
has received positive
feedbacks from the local
communities.
Following such
activities of reorganization,
fishermen visit, and
training of environmentally
© Telapak friendly fishing techniques,
Telapak/Lakpesdam has
also facilitated coral
Similar to other places, Telapak/Lakpesdam transplantation by the
Telapak has recognized has also facilitated the local fishermen to
Sembilan Islands through visits of traditional improve coral reef
activity such as monitoring fishermen from Les ecosystem condition,
of cyanide fishing. In Village in Bali to this which in the near future
collaboration with BLPM island as a media to share will be followed by
Lakpesdam, a local NGO experiences among the facilitating Integrated
in Makassar, Telapak fishermen who once were Coastal and Small Island
started field assistance cyanide users. It is Management involving
activities and organizing expected that the local every stakeholder in the
the local cyanide user. fishermen would learn Sembilan Islands.
43
 PT. Bahtera LEStari Profile
PT Bahtera Lestari is a main intervention in ornamental fish industry that is a successful example of a
collaborative initiative between: 1. Bahtera Nusantara Foundation, an NGO located in Denpasar- Bali
established in 1999, 2. PROMOLA, an NGOs networking group for destructive fishing issues in Indonesia,
started since 1998 and coordinated by Telapak, an NGO located in Bogor, and 3. “Coral Reef Restoration
and Establishment of Sustainable, Community-Based Ornamental Fish Business” funded by GEF-SGP,
started in June 2002.

PT. Bahtera LEStari integrates several objectives and interests of the stakeholders of ornamental fishing
industry. Its main concern is to facilitate the needs and interests of Les Village communities that are involved
in the industry, represented by the fishermen group of ornamental fish, Mina Bhakti Soansari . The
objectives of PT. Bahtera Lestari in line with the objectives of the fishermen group are as follows:
1. To improve the welfare of the local ornamental fish fishermen
2. To provide a legal basis for community-based ornamental fish business, and
3. To preserve the marine ecosystem especially coral reefs.

PT Bahtera LEStari offers a unique position because it supports the involvement of all the stakeholders
between fishermen communities and the local leaders in Les Village. The establishment of this company was
done through several meetings and social works among the fishermen, fish collectors (juragan), village
chiefs, local leaders, village administrators, NGOs activists, business experts and consultants. As a result, it
was then decided to establish an ornamental fish exporter company, the company holdings as well as its
business plan. The legal process took place in December 2002 through a notary public, John K. Mulya, in
Denpasar (Notarial Document No.: 105, dated 19 December 2002). This company is also complemented
with Tax Obligatory Number (NPWP:02.217.737.2-903.000) on January 27, 2003.

PT Bahtera LEStari works in three different fields: ornamental fish exporter, marine ecotourism, and
management consultant for coastal and marine management. These three fields were developed based on
the strength of the company in managing coast and marine resources, as well as its strength of being a
community-based company.

Ornamental Fish Industry

The fishermen in LES village are very important ornamental fish producers in Indonesia. There are at
least 30 companies of ornamental fish exporters in Bali that are all dependent on the fish supply from more
than 100 fishermen in LES village. This shows one of the strength of PT Bahtera LEStari in their production
capacity. The fishermen in LES village collect ornamental fish from their surrounding waters as well as in
other areas in Sulawesi, Lombok, Bima and Flores. These various collection sites have assured the
position of PT. Bahtera LEStari as an important ornamental fish exporter due to its access to different types of
ornamental fish. PT. Bahtera LEStari is currently in the process of expanding its network to other
ornamental fish fishermen by replicating the model developed in LES village. This is an elegant approach to
assure a sustainable supply of fish to the company, if for any reasons, the LES fishermen were not able to
supply enough fish. In every fishing place, PT. Bahtera LSEtari has developed a community based
management system, where it develops fishing area, prohibited fishing area and rehabilitation area, along
with monitoring and enforcement of local policies. This is one of the company’s objectives to produce fish
catch from a healthy and a healthier coral reef ecosystem. PT. Bahtera LEStari is the first export company

44
that produces cyanide-free ornamental fish, which have not been followed by other companies. It has a
mission of producing only environmental friendly products, fish from areas that are well managed, according
to international standard of fishing. PT. Bahtera LEStari achieved this objective after two years of research,
planning, training, and business development. This initiative was taken based on the fact that cyanide
fishing- which obviously has negative impacts on the environment - still dominating fish catching techniques
in Indonesia and other areas in Asia-Pacific. The system developed by PT. Bahtera LEStari has contributed
to lessen the pressure on the marine ecosystem and make better profits economically.

Photographer : Ridzki R. Sigit/Telapak

Location : Kendari - Southeast Sulawesi
45
telapak
Coastal &
and Marine
Management Policies

photos : © Telapak
... the establishment of strong fishermen organizations is
expected to broaden fishermen participation in local and
national coastal and marine policies ...

Photographer : M. Imran Amin/Telapak

Location : Rinca Archipelago - Flores
Change in the
coastal and marine
management policies

S
ince it was first established, for a just and sustainable management.
Telapak has been active in doing This has long become the main concerns
concerted efforts towards a just and focus of Telapak’s work in policy
marine resource management. The advocacy.
current unjust management of marine Together with government and other
resources occurs due to lack of integrated NGOs in Indonesia, Telapak rolled out
policies, which should be built on the the discourse to set up governance that
involvement of all the stakeholders will place marine issues as crucial issues.
especially the local communities who rely The presence of a specific department
on the presence of the resources. The in charge of marine affairs and fisheries
present policies are only concerned with is one of its concrete suggestions. This
gaining biggest profits for certain groups. was taken into action by the
There is no overarching policy for government when Abdurrahman
coastal and marine resources Wahid (Gus Dur) was the president,
management in Indonesia. As a result, through the establishment of the
marine resources exploitation has gone Department for Marine Affairs and
very intensively without consideration Fisheries.

© Telapak

48
© Telapak

... Together with

government and other
NGOs in Indonesia,
Telapak rolled out the
discourse to set up
governance that will
place marine issues as
crucial issues ...
© Telapak

Nevertheless, this political will of ultimate goal, which is a just marine

the government would mean nothing resources management. In doing so,
without the support of some legal Telapak in collaboration with other
measures in the forms of regulations NGO network for marine issues
and policies. Telapak has been (PELA Net) and Indigenous People
assisting the new department and Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN)
monitoring the process of developing have conducted public consultation
new policies to assure that the process process for the legal measures
is transparent and participative and developed in every province in
the policies will not derail from its Indonesia.
49
Development of CBCRM-ICM in Indonesia
Community-Based Coastal Resources stakeholders in various areas to allow
Management (CBCRM) and Integrated them to have understanding and ability
Coastal Management (ICM) have been to carry out an integrated management.
promoted as the best choice for tackling This training involves the local
problems related to coastal areas. One communities as planners and
of the necessary activities in the organizers. To date, this program has
framework of CBCRM-ICM is a series conducted five trainings followed by the
of trainings for field implementation. development of a simple plan on coastal
Since 1999, Telapak in collaboration and marine management in areas
with several stakeholders from including: the District of Sumenep,
government (DKP and Bappedal), Sembilan Island Sub-District in South
universities (PKSPL-IPB) and NGOs Sulawesi, Tejakula Sub-District in Bali,
(PELA, PUTER, TNC, Terangi, and Penajam Sub-District in East
Pesut Foundation) have developed a Kalimantan and Bojonegoro Sub-
training program on ICM to District in Banten.

© Telapak

50
 © Telapak

Extending Participation of Fishermen

in Coastal and Marine Policies
Lessons learned from themselves were able to
working with survive on their own and
communities on coastal not dependent on other
and marine issues have groups. Telapak has been
brought Telapak to working on this through
further facilitate public its own program activities
participation on these as well as network, such as
issues. Within the last the PELA Net and
three years, Telapak has Indonesian People’s
One of the necessary
initiated and developed a Forum (IPF). The
activities in the
movement of fishermen establishment of strong
framework of
to fight for their survival fishermen organizations
CBCRM-ICM is a
and needs. This is based is expected to broaden
series of trainings for
on the understanding that fishermen participation
field implementation. a change in the fishermen in local and national
lives could only be coastal and marine
achieved if the fishermen policies.
51
© Telapak

© Telapak
© Telapak
 © Telapak

© Telapak

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© Telapak

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