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Joint Media Release

Windu Shrimp Farmer Union (PU3W)
Coalition of Indramayu Coastal Community (KOMPI)
Fisheries Justice Coalition (KIARA)
Friends of The Earth Indonesia (WALHI)
Layar Nusantara
Bina Desa Secretariat (InDHRRA)
 
Jakarta. March 10th 2010. In the mid of the opening Shrimp Aquaculture Dialogue (ShAD), on 9-10 March 2010, several non-governmental organizations and communities namely KIARA, WALHI, P3UW, Kompi, Bina Desa Secretariat, Layar Nusantara and Legal Aid Institution (LBH) Jakarta made rally against Shrimp Industry in front of Grand Melia Hotel., Jl. H.R Rasuna, Jakarta (9/3).    

M. Riza Damanik, General Secretary of Fisheries Justice Coalition (KIARA) in his oration said that, “Government of Indonesia national plan to increase fishery production particularly from aquaculture up to 353 percent in period of 2010-2014 is bad news. Shrimp pond expansion has been directly proportional with production, however inversely with value of shrimp price at international level. It shows declined rate of value from US$11.9 per kg in 2005 becoming US$6.8 kg in 2008. Government and shrimp farmers get coins and experiencing severe social and environmental problems because of negative impact from shrimp industry. Companies aggressively keep expanding their business.”              

"Intensive and large scale of shrimp aquaculture that lasted for many years has destroyed environment and community welfare in the coastal areas. Change use of mangrove land into intensive shrimp ponds has resulted abrasion, sea water intrusion and loss of ecological functions of mangrove forests and other economic values. In addition, it also leads to violation rights of traditional fishers who live and depend their economic resources
 
“Poverty of shrimp farmers and coastal communities is due to the lack of state responsibility. There is an increasing inequality ownership on capital and limited authority over means of production, access, control of shrimp farmers and coastal communities over fisheries resources and poor opportunity to master advanced technology. Secondly, tight competition and market mechanisms are additional burdens aggravating the situation. Third, there are strong structural pressures which originate from government policies in developing fishery production as foreign exchange income resources. Interests of shrimp farmers have been neglected by design. Therefore, Indonesia government has to provide protection and recognition constitutional rights of shrimp farmers and coastal communities, review all natural resource laws and regulations, and to implement agrarian reform restructuring the ownership imbalances and utilization of resources in coastal areas,” said Ade Muttaqin from Bina Desa Secretariat.   
 
Value of Indonesia Shrimp in International Market (2005-2008)
(USD/kg)
Year    Value(USD/ kg )
2005    11.9
2006    12.4
2007    14.3
2008    6.8
*) analyzed from national information
 
CP Prima operates in more than 70 countries including retailers and distributors. The company produce shrimp feed, fish meal, fries which mere marketed to shrimp farmers in Indonesia. Technically, shrimp farmers are market and at the same time becoming producers of cheap shrimps through contract farming.    

In the meeting room, Mida Saragih Knowledge Management of KIARA insisted in front of ShAD participants said that, “Our present here is not for affiliation or support ShAD. We want to make clear by revealing wrong practices which have been done by industries like CP Prima. Secondly, we urge government of Indonesia in order not to involve in any certification model produced by Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).  Government must realize on the first point that certification is voluntary mechanism and not regulated under state authority. Therefore, shrimp companies will always liberally do crimes no matter what standard they agree with.”
 
“CP Prima as national and international key player on shrimp has had at least six certifications as part of commitment for community economy, social welfare and sustainable environment. However, company’s crimes against environment also human rights violation upon shrimp farmers, labors are still going on without restraint. Those certifications merely help marketing our shrimp in US, EU and Japan with green label,” said Mida.    

Shrimp Aquacultulture Dialogue (ShAD) claimed that it will include discussion on social and environmental aspect.   

Nafian Faiz, Coordinator of Windu Shrimp Farmer Union (P3UW) who also present in the meeting clarified that, “There is no benefit of certification for us. Shrimp price at farmers level in Bumi Dipasena Jaya are decided by CP Prima and fluctuated depend on their assessment on quality or measure. Furthermore, our shrimp price is the lowest from total average rate of Cold Storage in Jakarta, Surabaya and Lampung. It’s already too late to come out from CP Prima trap and big loss for farmers by considering black tiger price is always higher at traditional market Rawajitu.”     

“Moratorium of shrimp pond industries can be enabled by implementing immediately three agendas, first, to stop opening new area for shrimp aquaculture while rehabilitating environment and mend social impacts at the same time; to optimize existing shrimp ponds such as Bumi Dipasena Jaya with vast around 16,000 hectares in Lampung Province; and the third point is to reinforce law by social and environmental audit to punish companies which are proved guilty. Basically, we push government of Indonesia optimizing state regulation in managing natural resources,

For more information, please contact:  
1.    Nafian Faiz, Coordinator of Windu Shrimp Farmer Union (P3UW) (+6281279345550)
2.    Iin Rohimin, Coordinator of Coalition of Indramayu Coastal Community (KOMPI) (+628122340017)
3.    M. Riza Damanik, General Secretary of Fisheries Justice Coalition (KIARA) (+62818 773515)
4.    Lita Mamonto, Coastal and Marine Campaigner Friends of The Earth Indonesia (WALHI) (+6285298644986)
5.    Ade Muttaqin, Advocacy and Network Bina Desa Secretariat (InDHRRA) (+62813 282 68895 )
6.    Karman Sastro, Program Coordinator Layar Nusantara (+6281228166988)
7.    Mida Saragih, Knowledge Management Division Fisheries Justice Coalition (KIARA) (+62813 223 06673)

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