"We are going to implement a business-oriented concept in the fish auction halls across the country in our effort to step up fishermen`s welfare," Marine Resources and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said here on Tuesday.
He said the revitalization of around 968 fish auction halls across the country was important part of the efforts to improve fishermen`s welfare.
Fadel said his ministry would provide around Rp3 trillion in funds for the effort and other related program such as provision of adequate housing for fishermen.
In addition, Fadel also said a presidential instruction (Inpres) would be issued for the improvement of fishermen`s welfare.
He said the Inpres was expected to increase the fishermen`s income and provide them with food and capital assistance because recent extreme weather had hampered their catch.
On a separate occasion, the secretary general of the People`s
Coalition for Fisheries Justice (Kiara), Riza Damanik, said there were three strategies the government should pursue to increase traditional fishermen`s per capita income.
"First, the government should focus on the revitalization of fish auction halls by improving their facilities and infrastructure," Riza said.
According to him, the second thing was the government should step up the subsidy for the people`s fishery sector, especially in the provision of fuel oil for catch fisheries and fish food for aquaculture fisheries.
And the third thing was a tangible action plan to rehabilitate and conserve fisheries resources and the environment in Indonesia`s territorial waters.
(Uu.O001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
