Regarding the fishermen’s productivity, there was an average increase of 15–20 percent throughout Indonesia. However, in a number of regions, the increase could reach 35 percent
Cilacap, C Java (ANTARA) - Weather-related information provided during the 2022 Field School on Weather for Fishermen (SLCN) is expected to increase the productivity of fishermen, head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati, has said.

Using the information, fishermen will be able to make plans before fishing by considering the wave conditions and ocean currents, she informed after opening the 2022 SLCN here on Tuesday.

Furthermore, fishermen will be able to predict which areas would be swarmed with fish so they can go straight to those areas, she said.

They will also be trained to utilize the interactive maritime weather information system application called the Indonesian Weather Information for Shipping (INA-WIS).


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For instance, fishermen will have to be vigilant if the color indicator for the waves shown by the INA-WIS is red since that would mean high sea waves, the BMKG head said.

“Thus, do not sail. Wait until the color changes to a lighter one, which means that the waves are lower," she added.

She said she hopes that the plans made by fishermen before going fishing would reduce the number of accidents at sea.

Meanwhile, deputy for meteorology at the BMKG, Guswanto, informed that the fishermen will take a test before and after participating in the SLCN, which will assess their understanding of the materials covered by the training.

Based on previous SCLN activities, during the pre-test, the average knowledge of the participants about the materials was around 30–40 percent, he noted. In the post-test results, their knowledge of the issues increased to 80–85 percent.

"Regarding the fishermen’s productivity, there was an average increase of 15–20 percent throughout Indonesia. However, in a number of regions, the increase could reach 35 percent," he said.

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Head of the Tunggul Wulung Cilacap BMKG Meteorological Station, Taruna Mona Rachman, said that the fishermen in the region usually go fishing without paying attention to the weather information issued by the BMKG.

Thus, when bad weather occurs at sea, accidents often happen, he added.

"Since they have received the training from the BMKG, (now) they can assess whether it (the condition) is dangerous or not (for fishing)," he said.

Member of Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Novita Wijayanti, lauded the enthusiasm of fishermen in Cilacap district to participate in the 2022 SLCN to gain more knowledge about the weather at sea.

Meanwhile, assistant for administrative affairs of the Cilacap regional secretary, Dian Setyabudi, lauded the attention accorded by the BMKG and Commission V of DPR RI to local fishermen.


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Translator: Sumarwoto, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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