Fuel Shortages and Mining Pollution Plunge Kabaena Island Fishermen into Crisis

For days, the boats of the Bajau fishermen have been adrift under the stilts of houses in Baliara Village, Kabaena Barat, Southeast Sulawesi. Their plight is dire, as they are unable to earn a living after being forced to stop fishing due to the difficulty in obtaining diesel fuel (BBM). "What can we do to survive? We can only live by fishing," Aco said softly while gathered with his family on his porch in late May 2026. This is not the first time Aco has been unable to fish due to fuel scarcity. The two Fishermen's Fuel Filling Stations (SPBN) are often empty. Even when fuel is available, the quota is frequently reduced. "At that time, we were given 20 liters per person. Now, it's only 10 liters. It's not enough for one fishing trip. And we have to queue every day, but the gas stations (SPBU) are always empty. If this continues, what will we get?" Aco lamented. For fishermen like Aco, fuel needs account for 80% of the total cost of fishing. This is exacerbated by the fact that fishing grounds are now further away and take longer to reach, as previous fishing zones have become barren due to nickel mining waste, particularly in coastal areas. Several nickel mining concessions surround Baliara Village. The intensity of nickel earth excavation causes mud residue in rivers, which eventually flows into the sea. In coastal areas, the sedimentation reaches the height of an adult's calf. According to a spatial analysis based on satellite imagery by Satya Bumi in April 2026, the mud pollution from mining has spread across 14.98 hectares, equivalent to 20 football fields, within a radius of 250 meters from the coastline. Previous research by Satya Bumi found that mud pollution from mining kills coral reef ecosystems and displaces fish habitats. Source: Mongabay Indonesia