Banda Aceh Fishermen Struggle to Maintain Tarek Pukat Tradition Amidst Marine Debris Challenges

In Banda Aceh, Aceh province, fishermen at Gampong Jawa beach are struggling to preserve the traditional collective fishing method known as 'Tarek Pukat'. This method involves multiple people cooperating to cast a large fishing net, stretching up to 700 meters, into the sea and then hauling it back to shore. However, the increasing amount of marine debris, particularly plastic waste, washing ashore has become a severe problem in recent years. Surya Abid, the leader of the Gampong Jawa Fishermen Group, stated, "When there's a lot of trash, we can only watch. If we force it, the nets will tear, and there will be no catch. Repairing the nets takes three to four days and costs up to 7 million Rupiah (approximately $450 USD)." The trash causes fishermen to be unable to fish for extended periods, making it difficult to continue the traditional fishing method. Tarek Pukat is a tradition of the region dating back to the Aceh Sultanate era and is still practiced in five coastal districts, including Gampong Jawa. However, with the proliferation of various modern fishing gear, the effort to maintain this cooperative fishing method faces many challenges. The fishermen are appealing for urgent measures to address the marine debris issue to protect their daily livelihoods and cultural heritage. Source: Mongabay Indonesia