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The US Ambassador visits Rajungan landing site in Betahwalang

by adminapri March 11, 2015 0 comments

The US Ambassador and APRI members

Betahwalang is one of pilot fisheries improvement project sites for Blue Swimming Crab of Asosiasi Pengelolaan Rajungan Indonesia (APRI) in Indonesia. In May 2013 an agreement was achieved between the Indonesian Association of Blue Swimming Crab Processors (APRI) and the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science of the Diponegoro Univesrsity (UNDIP) are taking the initiative to perform a collaborative fishery management pilot program as well as education program that involves BSC fisher group as well as other key stakeholders at the local level. APRI and UNDIP agreed to develop pilot program to implement some tools: i.e minimum size regulations, no taking berried females, gear design regulations (with mini plants and APRI members) to be a process of lesson learned and engage government officials to discuss and bring crabs sustainability to higher level. Following people’s agreement on sustaining BSC fishery, village government was convinced that a village regulation is required to sustain the fishery. Establishing a BSC conservation area enhances fish and shellfish abundance in the area, in addition to providing natural barrier for the entrance of destructive fishing from outside.

The Blue Swimming Crab Fishermen and The US Ambassador

Following the success story of Betahwalang, the US Ambassador, H.E. Robert O. Blake, Jr., was visiting the village on March 11, 2015. He arrived at Betahwalang BSC fishery and meet with Mr. Ahmad Jamil (Chair, BSC Fisheries Management Committee), Mr. Slamet Untung (Ketua Kelompok Nelayan Betahwalang), Dr Abdul Ghofar (UNDIP), and representative of Asosiasi Pengelolaan Rajungan Indonesia (APRI), and fisheries community as well. APRI was represented by Mr. Kuncoro Catur Nugroho (Chairman of APRI, and PT KML), Mr. Imam Indar (PCA), Mr. Waanto (Handy International), Mr. Didik Hari Santosa (Blue Star Foods), Mr. Ary Syaiful (MBI), and Mr. Ardhayadi (SJA). “Indonesia has exported more than 50% of the total export volume of Blue Swimming Crab to US, and that’s why Indonesia important to US” said Mr. Kuncoro, Chairman of APRI.

The Ambassador visited Betahwalang BSC landing site and APRI’s BSC hatchery. Then, the Ambassador visited Betahwalang Mosque and meets with Bupati, District Parliament Chief, government stakeholders, fisheries community, and APRI members.

The village of Betahwalang is now known as “Betahwalang Desa Pengelolaan Rajungan” or Betahwalang – The BSC Village, while the district of Demak and local parliament are now in the process of adding the forth icon “rajungan” (BSC) to existing district icons (i.e. Kota Wali, Guava and Starfruit). The district will provide a budget for sustainable BSC fisheries managemet, starting from 2015.