Seaweed Farmers in East Nusa Tenggara Face Decline After Coal Power Plant Operation

In Lifuleo Village, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia, seaweed farmers are facing significant challenges following the operation of the 'PLTU Timor-1' coal power plant. The plant began operations in September 2023. Oktaf Alexander Saketu, the head of the Lifuleo Village Seaweed Farmers Association, stated that the plant has led to a decline in seaweed quality and fish catches. According to Oktaf, the seaweed is affected by a disease known as 'ice-ice,' causing it to lose color, become slimy, and wither before harvest. The once abundant seaweed yields have drastically decreased. "Seaweed here used to be very good. Now it's very difficult to get a harvest," Oktaf said. The waters of Lifuleo have been known as a productive seaweed cultivation area since 1999, with vast stretches of seaweed growing in the sea. While fish catches were still relatively easy to obtain offshore, they have been declining in recent years, making seaweed farming the primary source of income for residents. However, since the operation of PLTU Timor-1, residents like Seprianus Alexander have reported a gradual increase in marine pollution. Damage to coral reefs, a decrease in fish populations, and the phenomenon of seaweed dying before harvest have been observed. Oktaf recalled that in the past, one could reach seaweed cultivation sites with a small boat. He chose to become a seaweed farmer around 2000 because it was more promising and required less initial capital. The current situation, however, threatens the livelihoods of residents who have long depended on the sea for their sustenance. Information Source: Mongabay Indonesia