AntaraBengkulu (ANTARA) - Fishermen in Bengkulu City broke into a tussle on Friday afternoon after two traditional fishing boats were allegedly torched by fishermen using trawlers.
"The perpetrator behind burning the ship was a fisherman suspected to be from Baai Island," Kasubdit Patrol Air AKBP Hadi Joko Susilo noted in Bengkulu on Friday.
After the two traditional boats got engulfed in fire, dozens of fishermen from Malabero Village promptly boarded three ships to approach the fishermen in the Baai Island Port complex to seek revenge.
This knee-jerk reaction prompted police personnel to immediately fire several shots into the air to warn traditional fishermen to step back and retreat.
After being on the receiving end of a shot from a police officer, the three traditional fishing boats turned around and left Baai Island. This action also triggered the ire of the Baai Island fishermen, who immediately boarded the ship and pursued the traditional fishermen from Malabero.
Monitoring the Baai Island Port complex, dozens of members of the police and Navy continue to stand guard in the vital area.
Susilo confirmed he had yet to ascertain whether this incident was a carry forward of the burning down of two fishing trawlers several times earlier.
Conflicts also erupted between fishermen in the waters of Pasar Palik, North Bengkulu District, over the use of trawlers, fishing equipment that are not environment-friendly.
Until this news came to light, the mid-sea chase between the Malabero fishermen against the use of trawlers and Baai Island fishermen known to generally employ trawlers, was still ongoing.
The government has banned the use of trawl fishing equipment through Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister's Regulation No. 2 of 2015 on prohibition on the use of trawl and seine net fishing equipment.
Translator: Eliswan Azly
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
