Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and BPI Invite Fishermen to Protect Whale Shark Populations in Batang Waters
BATANG - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) together with PT Bhimasena Power Indonesia (BPI) as the owner of the Central Java Power Plant 2 x 1,000 MW (Batang Power Plant) to provide education and invite the fishermen community to participate in protecting the habitat of whale sharks in Batang waters.
Darmawan from the Serang Coastal and Marine Resources Management Workshop, Directorate General of Maritime and Marine Spatial Management, Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs, explained that the protection of whale sharks in Indonesia is regulated based on a series of regulations and laws. Law Number 31 of 2004 which was later amended by Law Number 45 of 2009 concerning Fisheries, became the main basis for regulating the protection of marine resources, including whale sharks. In addition, there are further regulations such as Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Regulation Number 61 of 2018 and Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Regulation Number 44 of 2019. This regulates the management of protected fish and is included in the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) appendix. Wild Fauna and Flora).
Darmawan also described the unique characteristics of whale sharks, including their large body size, wide and flat head with small eyes, and a mouth that extends almost to the front of the head. The interesting reproductive pattern of whale sharks is also described, in which they are ovoviviparous and can give birth to up to 12 young after a gestation involving around 300 embryos.
BPI's External Relations Manager, Bagus Dona Doni, explained that the purpose of the activity was to create awareness and education about the importance of protecting protected animals.
"Including whale sharks, to fishermen. We hope to create a balanced environment between fishing activities and the sustainability of marine life," said Bagus Dona Doni.
BPI has also formed a partnership with Mataram University in Lombok to conduct a study regarding the presence of whale sharks in Batang. It is hoped that this study will provide a deeper understanding of the behavior and population of whale sharks in the region.
Researcher and Lecturer at Mataram University, West Nusa Tenggara, Mahardika conveyed the results of his research regarding the presence of whale sharks that appear in Batang waters.
One of the other sources was Ibnu Abihatim, a representative from the Department of Fisheries, Maritime Affairs and Animal Husbandry of Batang Regency.
